The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare (book suggestions TXT) 📖

fleet, threat’ning 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-sinew’d, hearted, breath’d, 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 t’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 ACT_4|SC_1

ACT IV. SCENE I.

CAESAR’S camp before Alexandria Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS, with his army; CAESAR reading a letter

 

CAESAR. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger He hath whipt with rods; dares me to personal combat, Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know I have many other ways to die, meantime Laugh at his challenge.

MAECENAS. Caesar must think

When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot of his distraction. Never anger Made good guard for itself.

CAESAR. Let our best heads

Know that tomorrow the last of many battles We mean to fight. Within our files there are Of those that serv’d Mark Antony but late Enough to fetch him in. See it done;

And feast the army; we have store to do’t, And they have earn’d the waste. Poor Antony! Exeunt ACT_4|SC_2

SCENE II.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others

 

ANTONY. He will not fight with me, Domitius?

ENOBARBUS. No.

ANTONY. Why should he not?

ENOBARBUS. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.

ANTONY. Tomorrow, soldier,

By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live, Or bathe my dying honour in the blood Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?

ENOBARBUS. I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’

ANTONY. Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants; let’s tonight Be bounteous at our meal.

 

Enter three or four servitors Give me thy hand,

Thou has been rightly honest. So hast thou; Thou, and thou, and thou. You have serv’d me well, And kings have been your fellows.

CLEOPATRA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What means this?

ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] ‘Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots

Out of the mind.

ANTONY. And thou art honest too.

I wish I could be made so many men,

And all of you clapp’d up together in An Antony, that I might do you service So good as you have done.

SERVANT. The gods forbid!

ANTONY. Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight.

Scant not my cups, and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffer’d my command.

CLEOPATRA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?

ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.

ANTONY. Tend me tonight;

May be it is the period of your duty.

Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrow You’ll serve another master. I look on you As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, I turn you not away; but, like a master Married to your good service, stay till death.

Tend me tonight two hours, I ask no more, And the gods yield you for’t!

ENOBARBUS. What mean you, sir,

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; And I, an ass, am onion-ey’d. For shame!

Transform us not to women.

ANTONY. 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 burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts, I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you Where rather I’ll expect victorious life Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come, And drown consideration. Exeunt ACT_4|SC_3

SCENE III.

Alexandria. Before CLEOPATRA’s palace Enter a company of soldiers FIRST SOLDIER. Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.

SECOND SOLDIER. It will determine one way. Fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLDIER. Nothing. What news?

SECOND SOLDIER. Belike ‘tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

FIRST SOLDIER. Well, sir, good night.

[They meet other soldiers]

SECOND SOLDIER. Soldiers, have careful watch.

FIRST SOLDIER. And you. Good night, good night.

[The two companies separate and place themselves in every corner of the stage]

SECOND SOLDIER. Here we. And if tomorrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up.

THIRD SOLDIER. ‘Tis a brave army,

And full of purpose.

[Music of the hautboys is under the stage]

SECOND SOLDIER. Peace, what noise?

THIRD SOLDIER. List, list!

SECOND SOLDIER. Hark!

THIRD SOLDIER. Music i’ th’ air.

FOURTH SOLDIER. Under the earth.

THIRD SOLDIER. It signs well, does it not?

FOURTH SOLDIER. No.

THIRD SOLDIER. Peace, I say!

What should this mean?

SECOND SOLDIER. ‘Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov’d, Now leaves him.

THIRD SOLDIER. Walk; let’s see if other watchmen Do hear what we do.

SECOND SOLDIER. How now, masters!

SOLDIERS. [Speaking together] How now!

How now! Do you hear this?

FIRST SOLDIER. Ay; is’t not strange?

THIRD SOLDIER. Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?

FIRST SOLDIER. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let’s see how it will give off.

SOLDIERS. Content. ‘Tis strange. Exeunt ACT_4|SC_4

SCENE IV.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, with others

 

ANTONY. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEOPATRA. Sleep a little.

ANTONY. No, my chuck. Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!

 

Enter EROS with armour Come, good fellow, put mine iron on.

If fortune be not ours to-day, it is

Because we brave her. Come.

CLEOPATRA. Nay, I’ll help too.

What’s this for?

ANTONY. Ah, let be, let be! Thou art

The armourer of my heart. False, false; this, this.

CLEOPATRA. Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.

ANTONY. Well, well;

We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?

Go put on thy defences.

EROS. Briefly, sir.

CLEOPATRA. Is not this buckled well?

ANTONY. Rarely, rarely!

He that unbuckles this, till we do please To daff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.

Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squire More tight at this than thou. Dispatch. O love, That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew’st The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see A workman in’t.

 

Enter an armed SOLDIER

 

Good-morrow to thee. Welcome.

Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge.

To business that we love we rise betime, And go to’t with delight.

SOLDIER. A thousand, sir,

Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, And at the port expect you.

[Shout. Flourish of trumpets within]

 

Enter CAPTAINS and soldiers CAPTAIN. The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.

ALL. Good morrow, General.

ANTONY. ‘Tis well blown, lads.

This morning, like the spirit of a youth That means to be of note, begins betimes.

So, so. Come, give me that. This way. Well said.

Fare thee well, dame, whate’er becomes of me.

This is a soldier’s kiss. Rebukeable, And worthy shameful check it were, to stand On more mechanic compliment; I’ll leave thee Now like a man of steel. You that will fight, Follow me close; I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu.

Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, CAPTAINS and soldiers CHARMIAN. Please you retire to your chamber?

CLEOPATRA. Lead me.

He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might Determine this great war in single fight!

Then, Antony-but now. Well, on. Exeunt ACT_4|SC_5

SCENE V.

Alexandria. ANTONY’S camp Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS, a SOLDIER

meeting them

 

SOLDIER. The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

ANTONY. Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail’d To make me fight at land!

SOLDIER. Hadst thou done so,

The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Followed thy heels.

ANTONY. Who’s gone this morning?

SOLDIER. Who?

One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar’s camp Say ‘I am none of thine.’

ANTONY. What say’st thou?

SOLDIER. Sir,

He is with Caesar.

EROS. Sir, his chests and treasure

He has not with him.

ANTONY. Is he gone?

SOLDIER. Most certain.

ANTONY. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him-I will subscribe-gentle adieus and greetings; Say that I wish he never find more cause To change a master. O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus! Exeunt ACT_4|SC_6

SCENE VI.

Alexandria. CAESAR’S camp Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, CAESAR, With DOLABELLA and ENOBARBUS

 

CAESAR. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.

Our will is Antony be took alive;

Make it so known.

AGRIPPA. Caesar, I shall. Exit CAESAR. The time of universal peace is near.

Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nook’d world Shall bear the olive freely.

 

Enter A MESSENGER

 

MESSENGER. Antony

Is come into the field.

CAESAR. Go charge Agrippa

Plant those that have revolted in the vant, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS

ENOBARBUS. Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry on Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar And leave his master Antony. For this pains Casaer hath hang’d him. Canidius and the rest That fell away have entertainment, but No honourable trust. I have done ill, Of which I do accuse myself so sorely That I will joy no more.

 

Enter a SOLDIER of CAESAR’S

 

SOLDIER. Enobarbus, Antony

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with His bounty overplus. The messenger

Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now Unloading of his mules.

ENOBARBUS. I give it you.

SOLDIER. Mock not, Enobarbus.

I tell you true. Best you saf’d the bringer Out of the host. I must attend mine office, Or would have done’t myself. Your emperor Continues still a Jove. Exit ENOBARBUS. I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony,

Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude

Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.

If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do’t, I feel.

I fight against thee? No! I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fits My latter part of life. Exit ACT_4|SC_7

SCENE VII.

Field of battle between the camps Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and others

 

AGRIPPA. Retire. We have engag’d ourselves too far.

Caesar himself has work, and our oppression Exceeds what we expected. Exeunt Alarums. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded SCARUS.