Enter Demetrius and Philo.

PHILO
Nay, but this dotage of our general’s
O’erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes,
That o’er the files and musters of the war
Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper
And is become the bellows and the fan
To cool a gypsy’s lust.

Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the Train,
with Eunuchs fanning her.

Look where they come.
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transformed
Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see.
CLEOPATRA
If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
ANTONY
There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.
CLEOPATRA
I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

---

ANTONY
Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new
Earth.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER News, my good lord, from Rome.
ANTONY Grates me, the sum.
CLEOPATRA Nay, hear them, Antony.
Fulvia perchance is angry. Or who knows
If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you: “Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that.
Perform ’t, or else we damn thee.”
ANTONY How, my love?
CLEOPATRA Perchance? Nay, and most like.
You must not stay here longer; your dismission
Is come from Caesar. Therefore hear it, Antony.
Where’s Fulvia’s process? Caesar’s, I would say—
both?
Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen,
Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine
Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy cheek pays shame
When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
ANTONY
Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life
Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair
And such a twain can do ’t, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless.
CLEOPATRA Excellent falsehood!
Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her?
I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony
Will be himself.

---

ANTONY But stirred by Cleopatra.
Now for the love of Love and her soft hours,
Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh.
There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA
Hear the ambassadors.
ANTONY Fie, wrangling queen,
Whom everything becomes—to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
No messenger but thine, and all alone
Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note
The qualities of people. Come, my queen,
Last night you did desire it. To the Messenger.
Speak not to us.
Antony and Cleopatra exit with the Train.
DEMETRIUS
Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO
Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS I am full sorry
That he approves the common liar who
Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope
Of better deeds tomorrow. Rest you happy!
They exit.

Enter Enobarbus, Lamprius, a Soothsayer, Rannius,
Lucillius, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the Eunuch, Alexas,
and Servants.

CHARMIAN Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything
Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where’s the

---

soothsayer that you praised so to th’ Queen? O, that
I knew this husband which you say must charge
his horns with garlands!
ALEXAS Soothsayer!
SOOTHSAYER Your will?
CHARMIAN
Is this the man?—Is ’t you, sir, that know things?
SOOTHSAYER
In nature’s infinite book of secrecy
A little I can read.
ALEXAS , to Charmian Show him your hand.
ENOBARBUS , to Servants
Bring in the banquet quickly, wine enough
Cleopatra’s health to drink.
CHARMIAN , giving her hand to the Soothsayer Good sir,
give me good fortune.
SOOTHSAYER I make not, but foresee.
CHARMIAN Pray then, foresee me one.
SOOTHSAYER
You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
CHARMIAN He means in flesh.
IRAS No, you shall paint when you are old.
CHARMIAN Wrinkles forbid!
ALEXAS Vex not his prescience. Be attentive.
CHARMIAN Hush.
SOOTHSAYER
You shall be more beloving than beloved.
CHARMIAN I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
ALEXAS Nay, hear him.
CHARMIAN Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me
be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow
them all. Let me have a child at fifty to whom Herod
of Jewry may do homage. Find me to marry me
with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my
mistress.

---

SOOTHSAYER
You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
CHARMIAN O, excellent! I love long life better than figs.
SOOTHSAYER
You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune
Than that which is to approach.
CHARMIAN Then belike my children shall have no
names. Prithee, how many boys and wenches must
I have?
SOOTHSAYER
If every of your wishes had a womb,
And fertile every wish, a million.
CHARMIAN Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.
ALEXAS You think none but your sheets are privy to
your wishes.
CHARMIAN , to Soothsayer Nay, come. Tell Iras hers.
ALEXAS We’ll know all our fortunes.
ENOBARBUS Mine, and most of our fortunes tonight,
shall be—drunk to bed.
IRAS , giving her hand to the Soothsayer There’s a palm
presages chastity, if nothing else.
CHARMIAN E’en as the o’erflowing Nilus presageth
famine.
IRAS Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.
CHARMIAN Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication,
I cannot scratch mine ear.—Prithee
tell her but a workaday fortune.
SOOTHSAYER Your fortunes are alike.
IRAS But how, but how? Give me particulars.
SOOTHSAYER I have said.
IRAS Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?
CHARMIAN Well, if you were but an inch of fortune
better than I, where would you choose it?
IRAS Not in my husband’s nose.
CHARMIAN Our worser thoughts heavens mend. Alexas—
come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a

---

woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee, and
let her die, too, and give him a worse, and let worse
follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing
to his grave, fiftyfold a cuckold. Good Isis, hear me
this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more
weight, good Isis, I beseech thee!
IRAS Amen, dear goddess, hear that prayer of the
people. For, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome
man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to
behold a foul knave uncuckolded. Therefore, dear
Isis, keep decorum and fortune him accordingly.
CHARMIAN Amen.
ALEXAS Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make me a
cuckold, they would make themselves whores but
they’d do ’t.
ENOBARBUS Hush, here comes Antony.
CHARMIAN Not he. The Queen.

Enter Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA Saw you my lord?
ENOBARBUS No, lady.
CLEOPATRA Was he not here?
CHARMIAN No, madam.
CLEOPATRA
He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden
A Roman thought hath struck him.—Enobarbus!
ENOBARBUS Madam?
CLEOPATRA
Seek him and bring him hither.—Where’s Alexas?
ALEXAS
Here at your service. My lord approaches.

Enter Antony with a Messenger.

CLEOPATRA
We will not look upon him. Go with us.
All but Antony and the Messenger exit.

---

MESSENGER
Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
ANTONY Against my brother Lucius?
MESSENGER Ay.
But soon that war had end, and the time’s state
Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst
Caesar,
Whose better issue in the war from Italy
Upon the first encounter drave them.
ANTONY Well, what worst?
MESSENGER
The nature of bad news infects the teller.
ANTONY
When it concerns the fool or coward. On.
Things that are past are done, with me. ’Tis thus:
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flattered.
MESSENGER Labienus—
This is stiff news—hath with his Parthian force
Extended Asia: from Euphrates
His conquering banner shook, from Syria
To Lydia and to Ionia,
Whilst—
ANTONY “Antony,” thou wouldst say?
MESSENGER O, my lord!
ANTONY
Speak to me home; mince not the general tongue.
Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase, and taunt my faults
With such full license as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds
When our quick winds lie still, and our ills told us
Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.
MESSENGER At your noble pleasure. Messenger exits.

---

Enter another Messenger.

ANTONY
From Sicyon how the news? Speak there.
SECOND MESSENGER
The man from Sicyon—
ANTONY Is there such an one?
SECOND MESSENGER
He stays upon your will.
ANTONY Let him appear.
Second Messenger exits.
These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
Or lose myself in dotage.

Enter another Messenger with a letter.

What are you?
THIRD MESSENGER
Fulvia thy wife is dead.
ANTONY Where died she?
THIRD MESSENGER In Sicyon.
Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
Importeth thee to know, this bears.
He hands Antony the letter.
ANTONY Forbear me.
Third Messenger exits.
There’s a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it.
What our contempts doth often hurl from us,
We wish it ours again. The present pleasure,
By revolution lowering, does become
The opposite of itself. She’s good, being gone.
The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on.
I must from this enchanting queen break off.
Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know
My idleness doth hatch.—How now, Enobarbus!

Enter Enobarbus.

---

ENOBARBUS What’s your pleasure, sir?
ANTONY I must with haste from hence.
ENOBARBUS Why then we kill all our women. We see
how mortal an unkindness is to them. If they suffer
our departure, death’s the word.
ANTONY I must be gone.
ENOBARBUS Under a compelling occasion, let women
die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing,
though between them and a great cause, they
should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching
but the least noise of this, dies instantly. I have seen
her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do
think there is mettle in death which commits some
loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in
dying.
ANTONY She is cunning past man’s thought.
ENOBARBUS Alack, sir, no, her passions are made of
nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot
call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are
greater storms and tempests than almanacs can
report. This cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she
makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.
ANTONY Would I had never seen her!
ENOBARBUS O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful
piece of work, which not to have been blest
withal would have discredited your travel.
ANTONY Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS Sir?
ANTONY Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS Fulvia?
ANTONY Dead.
ENOBARBUS Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice.
When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a
man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the

---

Earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are
worn out, there are members to make new. If there
were no more women but Fulvia, then had you
indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented. This grief
is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings
forth a new petticoat, and indeed the tears live in an
onion that should water this sorrow.
ANTONY
The business she hath broachèd in the state
Cannot endure my absence.
ENOBARBUS And the business you have broached here
cannot be without you, especially that of Cleopatra’s,
which wholly depends on your abode.
ANTONY
No more light answers. Let our officers
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
The cause of our expedience to the Queen
And get her leave to part. For not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too
Of many our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Caesar and commands
The empire of the sea. Our slippery people,
Whose love is never linked to the deserver
Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
Pompey the Great and all his dignities
Upon his son, who—high in name and power,
Higher than both in blood and life—stands up
For the main soldier; whose quality, going on,
The sides o’ th’ world may danger. Much is
breeding
Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life
And not a serpent’s poison. Say our pleasure,

---

To such whose place is under us, requires
Our quick remove from hence.
ENOBARBUS I shall do ’t.
They exit.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras.

CLEOPATRA
Where is he?
CHARMIAN I did not see him since.
CLEOPATRA , to Alexas
See where he is, who’s with him, what he does.
I did not send you. If you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
Alexas exits.
CHARMIAN
Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him.
CLEOPATRA What should I do I do not?
CHARMIAN
In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.
CLEOPATRA
Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN
Tempt him not so too far. I wish, forbear.
In time we hate that which we often fear.

Enter Antony.

But here comes Antony.
CLEOPATRA I am sick and sullen.
ANTONY
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose—

---

CLEOPATRA
Help me away, dear Charmian! I shall fall.
It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature
Will not sustain it.
ANTONY Now, my dearest queen—
CLEOPATRA
Pray you stand farther from me.
ANTONY What’s the matter?
CLEOPATRA
I know by that same eye there’s some good news.
What, says the married woman you may go?
Would she had never given you leave to come.
Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here.
I have no power upon you. Hers you are.
ANTONY
The gods best know—
CLEOPATRA O, never was there queen
So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first
I saw the treasons planted.
ANTONY Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA
Why should I think you can be mine, and true—
Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods—
Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
Which break themselves in swearing!
ANTONY Most sweet
queen—
CLEOPATRA
Nay, pray you seek no color for your going,
But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words. No going then!
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor
But was a race of heaven. They are so still,

---

Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turned the greatest liar.
ANTONY How now, lady?
CLEOPATRA
I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know
There were a heart in Egypt.
ANTONY Hear me, queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile, but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Shines o’er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction; the hated grown to
strength
Are newly grown to love; the condemned Pompey,
Rich in his father’s honor, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
By any desperate change. My more particular,
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fulvia’s death.
CLEOPATRA
Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
ANTONY She’s dead, my queen. He shows her papers.
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
The garboils she awaked; at the last, best,
See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA O, most false love!
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
In Fulvia’s death, how mine received shall be.
ANTONY
Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know

---

The purposes I bear, which are or cease
As you shall give th’ advice. By the fire
That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence
Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
As thou affects.
CLEOPATRA Cut my lace, Charmian, come!
But let it be; I am quickly ill and well;
So Antony loves.
ANTONY My precious queen, forbear,
And give true evidence to his love, which stands
An honorable trial.
CLEOPATRA So Fulvia told me.
I prithee turn aside and weep for her,
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look
Like perfect honor.
ANTONY You’ll heat my blood. No more!
CLEOPATRA
You can do better yet, but this is meetly.
ANTONY
Now by my sword—
CLEOPATRA And target. Still he mends.
But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe.
ANTONY I’ll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA Courteous lord, one word.
Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it;
Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it;
That you know well. Something it is I would—
O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
And I am all forgotten.
ANTONY But that your Royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself.

---

CLEOPATRA ’Tis sweating labor
To bear such idleness so near the heart
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me,
Since my becomings kill me when they do not
Eye well to you. Your honor calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword
Sit laurel victory, and smooth success
Be strewed before your feet.
ANTONY Let us go. Come.
Our separation so abides and flies
That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away!
They exit.

Enter Octavius Caesar , reading a letter,
Lepidus, and their Train.

CAESAR
You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate
Our great competitor. From Alexandria
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes
The lamps of night in revel, is not more manlike
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or
Vouchsafed to think he had partners. You shall
find there
A man who is th’ abstract of all faults
That all men follow.
LEPIDUS I must not think there are
Evils enough to darken all his goodness.

---

His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,
More fiery by night’s blackness, hereditary
Rather than purchased, what he cannot change
Than what he chooses.
CAESAR
You are too indulgent. Let’s grant it is not
Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy,
To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave,
To reel the streets at noon and stand the buffet
With knaves that smells of sweat. Say this becomes
him—
As his composure must be rare indeed
Whom these things cannot blemish—yet must
Antony
No way excuse his foils when we do bear
So great weight in his lightness. If he filled
His vacancy with his voluptuousness,
Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones
Call on him for ’t. But to confound such time
That drums him from his sport and speaks as loud
As his own state and ours, ’tis to be chid
As we rate boys who, being mature in knowledge,
Pawn their experience to their present pleasure
And so rebel to judgment.

Enter a Messenger.

LEPIDUS Here’s more news.
MESSENGER
Thy biddings have been done, and every hour,
Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report
How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea,
And it appears he is beloved of those
That only have feared Caesar. To the ports
The discontents repair, and men’s reports
Give him much wronged.

---

CAESAR I should have known no less.
It hath been taught us from the primal state
That he which is was wished until he were,
And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love,
Comes feared by being lacked. This common body,
Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,
Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide
To rot itself with motion.

Enter a Second Messenger.

SECOND MESSENGER Caesar, I bring thee word
Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates,
Makes the sea serve them, which they ear and
wound
With keels of every kind. Many hot inroads
They make in Italy—the borders maritime
Lack blood to think on ’t—and flush youth revolt.
No vessel can peep forth but ’tis as soon
Taken as seen, for Pompey’s name strikes more
Than could his war resisted.
CAESAR Antony,
Leave thy lascivious wassails . When thou once
Was beaten from Modena, where thou slew’st
Hirsius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel
Did famine follow, whom thou fought’st against,
Though daintily brought up, with patience more
Than savages could suffer. Thou didst drink
The stale of horses and the gilded puddle
Which beasts would cough at. Thy palate then did
deign
The roughest berry on the rudest hedge.
Yea, like the stag when snow the pasture sheets,
The barks of trees thou browsèd. On the Alps
It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh
Which some did die to look on. And all this—

---

It wounds thine honor that I speak it now—
Was borne so like a soldier that thy cheek
So much as lanked not.
LEPIDUS ’Tis pity of him.
CAESAR Let his shames quickly
Drive him to Rome. ’Tis time we twain
Did show ourselves i’ th’ field, and to that end
Assemble we immediate council. Pompey
Thrives in our idleness.
LEPIDUS Tomorrow, Caesar,
I shall be furnished to inform you rightly
Both what by sea and land I can be able
To front this present time.
CAESAR Till which encounter,
It is my business too. Farewell.
LEPIDUS
Farewell, my lord. What you shall know meantime
Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,
To let me be partaker.
CAESAR
Doubt not, sir. I knew it for my bond.
They exit.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian.

CLEOPATRA Charmian!
CHARMIAN Madam?
CLEOPATRA Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora.
CHARMIAN Why, madam?
CLEOPATRA
That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
CHARMIAN You think of him too much.

---

CLEOPATRA
O, ’tis treason!
CHARMIAN Madam, I trust not so.
CLEOPATRA
Thou, eunuch Mardian!
MARDIAN What’s your Highness’ pleasure?
CLEOPATRA
Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure
In aught an eunuch has. ’Tis well for thee
That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
MARDIAN Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA Indeed?
MARDIAN
Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing
But what indeed is honest to be done.
Yet have I fierce affections, and think
What Venus did with Mars.
CLEOPATRA O, Charmian,
Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?
Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse?
O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Do bravely, horse, for wot’st thou whom thou
mov’st?
The demi-Atlas of this Earth, the arm
And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now,
Or murmuring “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?”
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself
With most delicious poison. Think on me
That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black,
And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar,
When thou wast here above the ground, I was
A morsel for a monarch. And great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow;
There would he anchor his aspect, and die
With looking on his life.

---

Enter Alexas from Antony .

ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA
How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
Yet coming from him, that great med’cine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
ALEXAS Last thing he did, dear queen,
He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
CLEOPATRA
Mine ear must pluck it thence.
ALEXAS “Good friend,” quoth
he,
“Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress.” So he nodded
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumbed by him.
CLEOPATRA What, was he sad, or merry?
ALEXAS
Like to the time o’ th’ year between th’ extremes
Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
CLEOPATRA
O, well-divided disposition!—Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man! But note
him:
He was not sad, for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his; he was not merry,
Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy; but between both.

---

O, heavenly mingle!—Be’st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,
So does it no man’s else.—Met’st thou my posts?
ALEXAS
Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
Why do you send so thick?
CLEOPATRA Who’s born that day
When I forget to send to Antony
Shall die a beggar.—Ink and paper, Charmian.—
Welcome, my good Alexas.—Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Caesar so?
CHARMIAN O, that brave Caesar!
CLEOPATRA
Be choked with such another emphasis!
Say “the brave Antony.”
CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
CLEOPATRA
By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
If thou with Caesar paragon again
My man of men.
CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then. But come, away,
Get me ink and paper.
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
They exit.

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas,
in warlike manner.

POMPEY
If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.
MENAS Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay they not deny.
POMPEY
Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.
MENAS We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers.
POMPEY I shall do well.
The people love me, and the sea is mine;
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
Says it will come to th’ full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where
He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flattered; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.
MENAS Caesar and Lepidus
Are in the field. A mighty strength they carry.

---

POMPEY
Where have you this? ’Tis false.
MENAS From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY
He dreams. I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wanned lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both;
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts;
Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite,
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honor
Even till a Lethe’d dullness—

Enter Varrius.

How now, Varrius?
VARRIUS
This is most certain that I shall deliver:
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt ’tis
A space for farther travel.
POMPEY I could have given less matter
A better ear.—Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm
For such a petty war. His soldiership
Is twice the other twain. But let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck
The ne’er lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS I cannot hope
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together.
His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar;
His brother warred upon him, although I think
Not moved by Antony.
POMPEY I know not, Menas,

---

How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
Were ’t not that we stand up against them all,
’Twere pregnant they should square between
themselves,
For they have entertainèd cause enough
To draw their swords. But how the fear of us
May cement their divisions and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be ’t as our gods will have ’t. It only stands
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.
They exit.

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

LEPIDUS
Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.
ENOBARBUS I shall entreat him
To answer like himself. If Caesar move him,
Let Antony look over Caesar’s head
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard,
I would not shave ’t today.
LEPIDUS
’Tis not a time for private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS Every time serves for the matter that is
then born in ’t.
LEPIDUS
But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS
Your speech is passion; but pray you stir
No embers up. Here comes the noble Antony.

---

Enter, at one door, Antony and Ventidius.

ENOBARBUS And yonder Caesar.

Enter, at another door, Caesar,
Maecenas, and Agrippa.

ANTONY , to Ventidius
If we compose well here, to Parthia.
Hark, Ventidius. They talk aside.
CAESAR , to Maecenas
I do not know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS , to Caesar and Antony Noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to th’ matter.
ANTONY ’Tis spoken well.
Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus. Flourish.
CAESAR Welcome to Rome.
ANTONY Thank you.
CAESAR Sit.
ANTONY Sit, sir.
CAESAR Nay, then. They sit.
ANTONY
I learn you take things ill which are not so,
Or, being, concern you not.
CAESAR I must be laughed at
If or for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you
Chiefly i’ th’ world; more laughed at, that I should

---

Once name you derogately when to sound your
name
It not concerned me.
ANTONY
My being in Egypt, Caesar, what was ’t to you?
CAESAR
No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt. Yet if you there
Did practice on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.
ANTONY How intend you, practiced?
CAESAR
You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me, and their contestation
Was theme for you; you were the word of war.
ANTONY
You do mistake your business. My brother never
Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,
And have my learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have to make it with,
It must not be with this.
CAESAR You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patched up your excuses.
ANTONY Not so, not so.
I know you could not lack—I am certain on ’t—
Very necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause ’gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars

---

Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another.
The third o’ th’ world is yours, which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
ENOBARBUS Would we had all such wives, that the men
might go to wars with the women!
ANTONY
So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,
Made out of her impatience—which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too—I grieving grant
Did you too much disquiet. For that you must
But say I could not help it.
CAESAR I wrote to you
When rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
ANTONY Sir,
He fell upon me ere admitted, then;
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i’ th’ morning. But next day
I told him of myself, which was as much
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.
CAESAR You have broken
The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS Soft, Caesar!
ANTONY No, Lepidus, let him speak.
The honor is sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lacked it.—But on, Caesar:
The article of my oath?
CAESAR
To lend me arms and aid when I required them,
The which you both denied.

---

ANTONY Neglected, rather;
And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may
I’ll play the penitent to you. But mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honor
To stoop in such a case.
LEPIDUS ’Tis noble spoken.
MAECENAS
If it might please you to enforce no further
The griefs between you, to forget them quite
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone you.
LEPIDUS Worthily spoken, Maecenas.
ENOBARBUS Or, if you borrow one another’s love for
the instant, you may, when you hear no more words
of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to
wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.
ANTONY
Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS That truth should be silent I had almost
forgot.
ANTONY
You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.
ENOBARBUS Go to, then. Your considerate stone.
CAESAR
I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech; for ’t cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So diff’ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to
edge
O’ th’ world I would pursue it.

---

AGRIPPA Give me leave, Caesar.
CAESAR Speak, Agrippa.
AGRIPPA
Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side,
Admired Octavia. Great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.
CAESAR Say not so , Agrippa.
If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness.
ANTONY
I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear
Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA
To hold you in perpetual amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife, whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men;
Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales,
Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both
Would each to other and all loves to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For ’tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.
ANTONY Will Caesar speak?
CAESAR
Not till he hears how Antony is touched
With what is spoke already.
ANTONY What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say “Agrippa, be it so,”
To make this good?

---

CAESAR The power of Caesar, and
His power unto Octavia.
ANTONY May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
Dream of impediment. Let me have thy hand.
Further this act of grace; and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves
And sway our great designs.
CAESAR There’s my hand.
They clasp hands.
A sister I bequeath you whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly. Let her live
To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again.
LEPIDUS Happily, amen!
ANTONY
I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey,
For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
Of late upon me. I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.
LEPIDUS Time calls upon ’s.
Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.
ANTONY Where lies he?
CAESAR About the Mount Misena.
ANTONY What is his strength by land?
CAESAR Great and increasing;
But by sea he is an absolute master.
ANTONY So is the fame.
Would we had spoke together. Haste we for it.
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talked of.
CAESAR With most gladness,

---

And do invite you to my sister’s view,
Whither straight I’ll lead you.
ANTONY
Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.
LEPIDUS
Noble Antony, not sickness should detain me.
Flourish. All but Enobarbus, Agrippa, and
Maecenas exit.
MAECENAS , to Enobarbus Welcome from Egypt, sir.
ENOBARBUS Half the heart of Caesar, worthy
Maecenas!—My honorable friend Agrippa!
AGRIPPA Good Enobarbus!
MAECENAS We have cause to be glad that matters are so
well digested. You stayed well by ’t in Egypt.
ENOBARBUS Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance
and made the night light with drinking.
MAECENAS Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast,
and but twelve persons there. Is this true?
ENOBARBUS This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had
much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily
deserved noting.
MAECENAS She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be
square to her.
ENOBARBUS When she first met Mark Antony, she
pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus.
AGRIPPA There she appeared indeed, or my reporter
devised well for her.
ENOBARBUS I will tell you.
The barge she sat in like a burnished throne
Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold,
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were lovesick with them. The oars were
silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beat to follow faster,

---

As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggared all description: she did lie
In her pavilion—cloth-of-gold, of tissue—
O’erpicturing that Venus where we see
The fancy outwork nature. On each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With divers-colored fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid did.
AGRIPPA O, rare for Antony!
ENOBARBUS
Her gentlewomen , like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i’ th’ eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the helm
A seeming mermaid steers. The silken tackle
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands
That yarely frame the office. From the barge
A strange invisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthroned i’ th’ market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to th’ air, which but for vacancy
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too
And made a gap in nature.
AGRIPPA Rare Egyptian!
ENOBARBUS
Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper. She replied
It should be better he became her guest,
Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne’er the word of “No” woman heard speak,
Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast,
And for his ordinary pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only.
AGRIPPA Royal wench!

---

She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed;
He ploughed her, and she cropped.
ENOBARBUS I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the public street,
And having lost her breath, she spoke and panted,
That she did make defect perfection,
And breathless pour breath forth.
MAECENAS
Now Antony must leave her utterly.
ENOBARBUS Never. He will not.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish.
MAECENAS
If beauty, wisdom, modesty can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessèd lottery to him.
AGRIPPA Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
Whilst you abide here.
ENOBARBUS Humbly, sir, I thank you.
They exit.

Enter Antony, Caesar; Octavia between them.

ANTONY
The world and my great office will sometimes
Divide me from your bosom.
OCTAVIA All which time
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.

---

ANTONY , to Caesar Goodnight, sir.—My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world’s report.
I have not kept my square, but that to come
Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear
lady.—
Good night, sir.
CAESAR Goodnight. Caesar and Octavia exit.

Enter Soothsayer.

ANTONY
Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?
SOOTHSAYER Would I had never come from thence,
nor you thither.
ANTONY If you can, your reason?
SOOTHSAYER I see it in my motion, have it not in my
tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again.
ANTONY
Say to me, whose fortunes shall rise higher,
Caesar’s or mine?
SOOTHSAYER Caesar’s.
Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side.
Thy dæmon—that thy spirit which keeps thee—is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel
Becomes afeard , as being o’erpowered. Therefore
Make space enough between you.
ANTONY Speak this no more.
SOOTHSAYER
To none but thee; no more but when to thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck
He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy luster thickens
When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But he away , ’tis noble.

---

ANTONY Get thee gone.
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
Soothsayer exits.
He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him,
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds;
His cocks do win the battle still of mine
When it is all to naught, and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt.
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.

Enter Ventidius.

O, come, Ventidius.
You must to Parthia; your commission’s ready.
Follow me and receive ’t.
They exit.

Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa.

LEPIDUS
Trouble yourselves no further. Pray you hasten
Your generals after.
AGRIPPA Sir, Mark Antony
Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.
LEPIDUS
Till I shall see you in your soldiers’ dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.
MAECENAS We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount
Before you, Lepidus.

---

LEPIDUS Your way is shorter;
My purposes do draw me much about.
You’ll win two days upon me.
BOTH Sir, good success.
LEPIDUS Farewell.
They exit.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

CLEOPATRA
Give me some music—music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
ALL The music, ho!

Enter Mardian the eunuch.

CLEOPATRA
Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN
My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA
As well a woman with an eunuch played
As with a woman.—Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA
And when good will is showed, though ’t come too
short,
The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now.
Give me mine angle; we’ll to th’ river. There,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up
I’ll think them every one an Antony
And say “Aha! You’re caught.”

---

CHARMIAN ’Twas merry when
You wagered on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA That time?—O, times!—
I laughed him out of patience; and that night
I laughed him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed,
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger.

O, from Italy!
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER Madam, madam—
CLEOPATRA
Antonio’s dead! If thou say so, villain,
Thou kill’st thy mistress. But well and free,
If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss, a hand that kings
Have lipped and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA
Why, there’s more gold. But sirrah, mark, we use
To say the dead are well. Bring it to that,
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA Well, go to, I will.
But there’s no goodness in thy face—if Antony
Be free and healthful, so tart a favor
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes,
Not like a formal man.

---

MESSENGER Will ’t please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA
I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st
Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Caesar or not captive to him,
I’ll set thee in a shower of gold and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.
MESSENGER Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA Well said.
MESSENGER
And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA Th’ art an honest man.
MESSENGER
Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA
Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA
I do not like “But yet.” It does allay
The good precedence. Fie upon “But yet.”
“But yet” is as a jailer to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together: he’s friends with Caesar,
In state of health, thou say’st, and, thou say’st, free.
MESSENGER
Free, madam, no. I made no such report.
He’s bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA For what good turn?
MESSENGER
For the best turn i’ th’ bed.
CLEOPATRA I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER
Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

---

CLEOPATRA
The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
Strikes him down.
MESSENGER Good madam, patience!
CLEOPATRA What say you? Strikes him.
Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me! I’ll unhair thy head!
She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in
brine,
Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
MESSENGER Gracious madam,
I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA
Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee
And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage,
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.
MESSENGER He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
Rogue, thou hast lived too long. Draw a knife.
MESSENGER Nay then, I’ll run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
He exits.
CHARMIAN
Good madam, keep yourself within yourself.
The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA
Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt.
Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again.
Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN
He is afeard to come.

---

CLEOPATRA I will not hurt him.
These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause.

Enter the Messenger again.

Come hither, sir.
Though it be honest, it is never good
To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do
If thou again say “yes.”
MESSENGER He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA
The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
MESSENGER
Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence.
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER
I crave your Highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA He is married?
MESSENGER
Take no offense that I would not offend you.
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA
O, that his fault should make a knave of thee

---

That art not what th’ art sure of! Get thee hence.
The merchandise which thou hast brought from
Rome
Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by ’em! Messenger exits.
CHARMIAN Good your Highness,
patience.
CLEOPATRA
In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA
I am paid for ’t now. Lead me from hence;
I faint. O, Iras, Charmian! ’Tis no matter.—
Go to the fellow, good Alexas. Bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination; let him not leave out
The color of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
Alexas exits.
Let him forever go—let him not, Charmian.
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way ’s a Mars. ( To Mardian. ) Bid you
Alexas
Bring me word how tall she is.—Pity me,
Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
They exit.

Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door,
with Drum and Trumpet; at another Caesar, Lepidus,
Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, and Agrippa,
with Soldiers marching.

POMPEY
Your hostages I have, so have you mine,
And we shall talk before we fight.

---

CAESAR Most meet
That first we come to words, and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent,
Which if thou hast considered, let us know
If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.
POMPEY To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods: I do not know
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you laboring for him. What was ’t
That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honored, honest, Roman Brutus,
With the armed rest, courtiers of beauteous
freedom,
To drench the Capitol, but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden
The angered ocean foams, with which I meant
To scourge th’ ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.
CAESAR Take your time.
ANTONY
Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails.
We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st
How much we do o’ercount thee.
POMPEY At land indeed
Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house;
But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in ’t as thou mayst.
LEPIDUS Be pleased to tell us—
For this is from the present—how you take
The offers we have sent you.

---

CAESAR There’s the point.
ANTONY
Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced.
CAESAR And what may follow
To try a larger fortune.
POMPEY You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send
Measures of wheat to Rome. This ’greed upon,
To part with unhacked edges and bear back
Our targes undinted.
ALL That’s our offer.
POMPEY Know then
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer. But Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience.—Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know
When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.
ANTONY I have heard it, Pompey,
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.
POMPEY Let me have your hand.
They clasp hands.
I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
ANTONY
The beds i’ th’ East are soft; and thanks to you,
That called me timelier than my purpose hither,
For I have gained by ’t.
CAESAR , to Pompey Since I saw you last,
There’s a change upon you.
POMPEY Well, I know not
What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face,

---

But in my bosom shall she never come
To make my heart her vassal.
LEPIDUS Well met here.
POMPEY
I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed.
I crave our composition may be written
And sealed between us.
CAESAR That’s the next to do.
POMPEY
We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s
Draw lots who shall begin.
ANTONY That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY
No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last,
Your fine Egyptian cookery shall have
The fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.
ANTONY You have heard much.
POMPEY I have fair meanings , sir.
ANTONY And fair words to them.
POMPEY Then so much have I heard.
And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
ENOBARBUS
No more of that. He did so.
POMPEY What, I pray you?
ENOBARBUS
A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
POMPEY
I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
ENOBARBUS Well,
And well am like to do, for I perceive
Four feasts are toward.
POMPEY Let me shake thy hand.
I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight
When I have envied thy behavior.

---

ENOBARBUS Sir,
I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised you
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.
POMPEY Enjoy thy plainness;
It nothing ill becomes thee.—
Aboard my galley I invite you all.
Will you lead, lords?
ALL Show ’s the way, sir.
POMPEY Come.
They exit, except for Enobarbus and Menas.
MENAS , aside Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have
made this treaty.—You and I have known, sir.
ENOBARBUS At sea, I think.
MENAS We have, sir.
ENOBARBUS You have done well by water.
MENAS And you by land.
ENOBARBUS I will praise any man that will praise me,
though it cannot be denied what I have done by
land.
MENAS Nor what I have done by water.
ENOBARBUS Yes, something you can deny for your own
safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
MENAS And you by land.
ENOBARBUS There I deny my land service. But give me
your hand, Menas. They clasp hands. If our eyes
had authority, here they might take two thieves
kissing.
MENAS All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their
hands are.
ENOBARBUS But there is never a fair woman has a true
face.
MENAS No slander. They steal hearts.
ENOBARBUS We came hither to fight with you.
MENAS For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a

---

drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his
fortune.
ENOBARBUS If he do, sure he cannot weep ’t back
again.
MENAS You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony
here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
ENOBARBUS Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
MENAS True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
ENOBARBUS But she is now the wife of Marcus
Antonius.
MENAS Pray you, sir?
ENOBARBUS ’Tis true.
MENAS Then is Caesar and he forever knit together.
ENOBARBUS If I were bound to divine of this unity, I
would not prophesy so.
MENAS I think the policy of that purpose made more in
the marriage than the love of the parties.
ENOBARBUS I think so, too. But you shall find the band
that seems to tie their friendship together will be
the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy,
cold, and still conversation.
MENAS Who would not have his wife so?
ENOBARBUS Not he that himself is not so, which is
Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again.
Then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in
Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the
strength of their amity shall prove the immediate
author of their variance. Antony will use his affection
where it is. He married but his occasion here.
MENAS And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard?
I have a health for you.
ENOBARBUS I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats
in Egypt.
MENAS Come, let’s away.
They exit.

Music plays. Enter two or three Servants
with a banquet.

FIRST SERVANT Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their
plants are ill-rooted already. The least wind i’ th’
world will blow them down.
SECOND SERVANT Lepidus is high-colored.
FIRST SERVANT They have made him drink alms-drink.
SECOND SERVANT As they pinch one another by the
disposition, he cries out “No more,” reconciles
them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
FIRST SERVANT But it raises the greater war between
him and his discretion.
SECOND SERVANT Why, this it is to have a name in great
men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will
do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
FIRST SERVANT To be called into a huge sphere, and not
to be seen to move in ’t, are the holes where eyes
should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey,
Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with
other Captains and a Boy.

ANTONY
Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’ th’ Nile
By certain scales i’ th’ Pyramid; they know
By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean if dearth
Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises. As it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
LEPIDUS You’ve strange serpents there?
ANTONY Ay, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your

---

mud by the operation of your sun; so is your
crocodile.
ANTONY They are so.
POMPEY
Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!
LEPIDUS I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er
out.
ENOBARBUS , aside Not till you have slept. I fear me
you’ll be in till then.
LEPIDUS Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’
pyramises are very goodly things. Without contradiction
I have heard that.
MENAS , aside to Pompey
Pompey, a word.
POMPEY , aside to Menas Say in mine ear what is ’t.
MENAS ( whispers in ’s ear )
Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
And hear me speak a word.
POMPEY , aside to Menas
Forbear me till anon.—This wine for Lepidus!
LEPIDUS What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
ANTONY It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as
it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves
with it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth
it, and the elements once out of it, it
transmigrates.
LEPIDUS What color is it of?
ANTONY Of it own color too.
LEPIDUS ’Tis a strange serpent.
ANTONY ’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
CAESAR , aside to Antony Will this description satisfy
him?
ANTONY With the health that Pompey gives him, else he
is a very epicure.

---

POMPEY , aside to Menas
Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away!
Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for?
MENAS , aside to Pompey
If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
POMPEY I think th’ art mad!
He rises, and they walk aside.
The matter?
MENAS
I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
POMPEY
Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else
to say?—
Be jolly, lords.
ANTONY These quicksands, Lepidus,
Keep off them, for you sink.
MENAS , aside to Pompey
Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
POMPEY What sayst thou?
MENAS
Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
POMPEY How should that be?
MENAS But entertain it,
And though thou think me poor, I am the man
Will give thee all the world.
POMPEY Hast thou drunk well?
MENAS
No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove.
Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips
Is thine, if thou wilt ha ’t.
POMPEY Show me which way.
MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,

---

And when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.
POMPEY Ah, this thou shouldst have done
And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy;
In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know
’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue
Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done,
But must condemn it now. Desist and drink.
MENAS , aside For this
I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more.
Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered
Shall never find it more.
POMPEY This health to Lepidus!
ANTONY , to Servant
Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
ENOBARBUS
Here’s to thee, Menas.
MENAS Enobarbus, welcome.
POMPEY Fill till the cup be hid.
ENOBARBUS , pointing to the Servant carrying Lepidus
There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
MENAS Why?
ENOBARBUS He bears
The third part of the world, man. Seest not?
MENAS
The third part, then, is drunk. Would it were all,
That it might go on wheels.
ENOBARBUS Drink thou. Increase the reels.
MENAS Come.
POMPEY
This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
ANTONY
It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
Here’s to Caesar.

---

CAESAR I could well forbear ’t.
It’s monstrous labor when I wash my brain
And it grows fouler.
ANTONY Be a child o’ th’ time.
CAESAR Possess it, I’ll make answer.
But I had rather fast from all, four days,
Than drink so much in one.
ENOBARBUS , to Antony Ha, my brave emperor,
Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals
And celebrate our drink?
POMPEY Let’s ha ’t, good soldier.
ANTONY Come, let’s all take hands
Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our
sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.
ENOBARBUS All take hands.
Make battery to our ears with the loud music,
The while I’ll place you; then the boy shall sing.
The holding every man shall beat as loud
As his strong sides can volley.

Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand.


BOY Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne.
In thy vats our cares be drowned.
With thy grapes our hairs be crowned.
ALL Cup us till the world go round,
Cup us till the world go round.
CAESAR
What would you more?—Pompey, goodnight.—
Good brother,
Let me request you off. Our graver business
Frowns at this levity.—Gentle lords, let’s part.
You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue

---

Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost
Anticked us all. What needs more words?
Goodnight.
Good Antony, your hand.
POMPEY I’ll try you on the shore.
ANTONY And shall, sir. Give ’s your hand.
POMPEY
O, Antony, you have my father’s house.
But what? We are friends! Come down into the boat.
ENOBARBUS
Take heed you fall not.
All but Menas and Enobarbus exit.
Menas, I’ll not on shore.
MENAS
No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets,
flutes! What!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged. Sound
out! Sound a flourish, with drums.
ENOBARBUS Hoo, says ’a! There’s my cap!
He throws his cap in the air.
MENAS Hoo! Noble captain, come.
They exit.

Enter Ventidius as it were in triumph, the dead body of
Pacorus borne before him; with Silius and Soldiers.

VENTIDIUS
Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now
Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death
Make me revenger. Bear the King’s son’s body
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
SILIUS Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly. So thy grand captain, Antony,
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and
Put garlands on thy head.
VENTIDIUS O, Silius, Silius,
I have done enough. A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius:
Better to leave undone than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve ’s away.
Caesar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer than person. Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favor.

---

Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But ’twould offend him. And in his offense
Should my performance perish.
SILIUS Thou hast, Ventidius, that
Without the which a soldier and his sword
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to
Antony?
VENTIDIUS
I’ll humbly signify what in his name,
That magical word of war, we have effected;
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
We have jaded out o’ th’ field.
SILIUS Where is he now?
VENTIDIUS
He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what haste
The weight we must convey with ’s will permit,
We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along!
They exit.

Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another.

AGRIPPA What, are the brothers parted?
ENOBARBUS
They have dispatched with Pompey; he is gone.
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
To part from Rome. Caesar is sad, and Lepidus,
Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the greensickness.

---

AGRIPPA ’Tis a noble Lepidus.
ENOBARBUS
A very fine one. O, how he loves Caesar!
AGRIPPA
Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
ENOBARBUS
Caesar? Why, he’s the Jupiter of men.
AGRIPPA
What’s Antony? The god of Jupiter.
ENOBARBUS
Spake you of Caesar? How, the nonpareil!
AGRIPPA
O Antony, O thou Arabian bird!
ENOBARBUS
Would you praise Caesar, say “Caesar.” Go no
further.
AGRIPPA
Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
ENOBARBUS
But he loves Caesar best, yet he loves Antony.
Hoo, hearts, tongues, figures , scribes, bards, poets,
cannot
Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number—hoo!—
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
AGRIPPA Both he loves.
ENOBARBUS
They are his shards and he their beetle.
Trumpet within.
So,
This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
AGRIPPA
Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.

Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.

ANTONY No further, sir.

---

CAESAR
You take from me a great part of myself.
Use me well in ’t.—Sister, prove such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest bond
Shall pass on thy approof.—Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue which is set
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
The fortress of it. For better might we
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherished.
ANTONY Make me not offended
In your distrust.
CAESAR I have said.
ANTONY You shall not find,
Though you be therein curious, the least cause
For what you seem to fear. So the gods keep you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends.
We will here part.
CAESAR
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well.
The elements be kind to thee and make
Thy spirits all of comfort. Fare thee well.
OCTAVIA My noble brother. She weeps.
ANTONY
The April’s in her eyes. It is love’s spring,
And these the showers to bring it on.—Be cheerful.
OCTAVIA , to Caesar
Sir, look well to my husband’s house, and—
CAESAR
What, Octavia?
OCTAVIA I’ll tell you in your ear.
Caesar and Octavia walk aside.
ANTONY
Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can

---

Her heart inform her tongue—the swan’s-down
feather
That stands upon the swell at the full of tide
And neither way inclines.
ENOBARBUS , aside to Agrippa Will Caesar weep?
AGRIPPA He has a cloud in ’s face.
ENOBARBUS
He were the worse for that were he a horse;
So is he being a man.
AGRIPPA Why, Enobarbus,
When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
He cried almost to roaring. And he wept
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
ENOBARBUS
That year indeed he was troubled with a rheum.
What willingly he did confound he wailed,
Believe ’t, till I wept too.
CAESAR , coming forward with Octavia No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from me still. The time shall not
Outgo my thinking on you.
ANTONY Come, sir, come,
I’ll wrestle with you in my strength of love.
Look, here I have you, thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.
CAESAR Adieu, be happy.
LEPIDUS , to Antony
Let all the number of the stars give light
To thy fair way.
CAESAR Farewell, farewell. Kisses Octavia.
ANTONY Farewell.
Trumpets sound. They exit.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

CLEOPATRA
Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA
Go to, go to.—Come hither, sir.

Enter the Messenger as before.

ALEXAS Good Majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
CLEOPATRA That Herod’s head
I’ll have! But how, when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it?—Come thou
near.
MESSENGER
Most gracious Majesty!
CLEOPATRA Did’st thou behold Octavia?
MESSENGER
Ay, dread queen.
CLEOPATRA Where?
MESSENGER Madam, in Rome.
I looked her in the face and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA
Is she as tall as me?
MESSENGER She is not, madam.
CLEOPATRA
Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?
MESSENGER
Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced.
CLEOPATRA
That’s not so good. He cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN
Like her? O Isis, ’tis impossible!

---

CLEOPATRA
I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and
dwarfish!—
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e’er thou looked’st on majesty.
MESSENGER She creeps.
Her motion and her station are as one.
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
CLEOPATRA Is this certain?
MESSENGER
Or I have no observance.
CHARMIAN Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
CLEOPATRA He’s very knowing.
I do perceive ’t. There’s nothing in her yet.
The fellow has good judgment.
CHARMIAN Excellent.
CLEOPATRA , to Messenger Guess at her years, I
prithee.
MESSENGER Madam, she was a widow.
CLEOPATRA Widow? Charmian, hark.
MESSENGER And I do think she’s thirty.
CLEOPATRA
Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is ’t long or round?
MESSENGER Round even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA
For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair what color?
MESSENGER Brown, madam, and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA , giving money There’s gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.
I will employ thee back again. I find thee
Most fit for business. Go, make thee ready.
Our letters are prepared. Messenger exits.

---

CHARMIAN A proper man.
CLEOPATRA
Indeed he is so. I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature’s no such thing.
CHARMIAN Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
CHARMIAN
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
CLEOPATRA
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good
Charmian,
But ’tis no matter. Thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
CHARMIAN I warrant you, madam.
They exit.

Enter Antony and Octavia.

ANTONY
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that—
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import—but he hath waged
New wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will and read it
To public ear;
Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honor, cold and sickly
He vented them , most narrow measure lent me;
When the best hint was given him, he not took ’t,
Or did it from his teeth.
OCTAVIA O, my good lord,

---

Believe not all, or if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne’er stood between,
Praying for both parts.
The good gods will mock me presently
When I shall pray “O, bless my lord and husband!”
Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
“O, bless my brother!” Husband win, win brother
Prays and destroys the prayer; no midway
’Twixt these extremes at all.
ANTONY Gentle Octavia,
Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honor,
I lose myself; better I were not yours
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between ’s. The meantime, lady,
I’ll raise the preparation of a war
Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste,
So your desires are yours.
OCTAVIA Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,
Your reconciler. Wars ’twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder up the rift.
ANTONY
When it appears to you where this begins,
Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults
Can never be so equal that your love
Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
Choose your own company, and command what cost
Your heart has mind to.
They exit.