Shakespeare's First Folio · William Shakespeare
FINIS.
Mes. Labienus (this is stiffe-newes) Hath with his Parthian Force Extended Asia: from Euphrates his conquering Banner shooke, from Syria to Lydia, And to Ionia, whil'st- Ant. Anthony thou would'st say Mes. Oh my Lord Ant. Speake to me home, Mince not the generall tongue, name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome: Raile thou in Fuluia's phrase, and taunt my faults With such full License, as both Truth and Malice Haue power to vtter. Oh then we bring forth weeds, When our quicke windes lye still, and our illes told vs Is as our earing: fare thee well awhile Mes. At your Noble pleasure. Exit Messenger Enter another Messenger. Ant. From Scicion how the newes? Speake there 1.Mes. The man from Scicion, Is there such an one? 2.Mes. He stayes vpon your will Ant. Let him appeare: These strong Egyptian Fetters I must breake, Or loose my selfe in dotage. Enter another Messenger with a Letter. What are you? 3.Mes. Fuluia thy wife is dead Ant. Where dyed she Mes. In Scicion, her length of sicknesse, With what else more serious, Importeth thee to know, this beares Antho. Forbeare me There's a great Spirit gone, thus did I desire it: What our contempts doth often hurle from vs, We wish it ours againe. The present pleasure, By reuolution lowring, does become The opposite of it selfe: she's good being gon, The hand could plucke her backe, that shou'd her on. I must from this enchanting Queene breake off, Ten thousand harmes, more then the illes I know My idlenesse doth hatch. Enter Enobarbus.
Cleo. What was he sad, or merry? Alex. Like to the time o'th' yeare, between y extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merrie Cleo. Oh well diuided 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 lookes by his. He was not merrie, Which seem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay In Egypt with his ioy, but betweene both. Oh heauenly mingle! Bee'st thou sad, or merrie, The violence of either thee becomes, So do's it no mans else. Met'st thou my Posts? Alex. I Madam, twenty seuerall Messengers. Why do you send so thicke? Cleo. Who's borne that day, when I forget to send to Anthonie, shall dye a Begger. Inke and paper Charmian. Welcome my good Alexas. Did I Charmian, euer loue Caesar so? Char. Oh that braue Caesar! Cleo. Be choak'd with such another Emphasis, Say the braue Anthony Char. The valiant Caesar Cleo. By Isis, I will giue thee bloody teeth, If thou with Caesar Paragon againe: My man of men Char. By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you Cleo. My Sallad dayes, When I was greene in iudgement, cold in blood, To say, as I saide then. But come, away, Get me Inke and Paper, he shall haue euery day a seuerall greeting, or Ile vnpeople Egypt.
Exeunt. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner. Pom. If the great Gods be iust, they shall assist The deeds of iustest men Mene. Know worthy Pompey, that what they do delay, they not deny Pom. Whiles we are sutors to their Throne, decayes the thing we sue for Mene. We ignorant of our selues, Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise Powres Deny vs for our good: so finde we profit By loosing of our Prayers Pom. I shall do well: The people loue me, and the Sea is mine; My powers are Cressent, and my Auguring hope Sayes it will come to'th' full. Marke Anthony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No warres without doores. Caesar gets money where He looses hearts: Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flatter'd: but he neither loues, Nor either cares for him Mene. Caesar and Lepidus are in the field, A mighty strength they carry Pom. Where haue you this? 'Tis false Mene. From Siluius, Sir Pom. He dreames: I know they are in Rome together Looking for Anthony: but all the charmes of Loue, Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip, Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Lust with both, Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts, Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes, Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite, That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour, Euen till a Lethied dulnesse- Enter Varrius.
Lepi. Your way is shorter, my purposes do draw me much about, you'le win two dayes vpon me Both. Sir good successe Lepi. Farewell. Exeunt. Enter Cleopater, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Giue me some Musicke: Musicke, moody foode of vs that trade in Loue Omnes. The Musicke, hoa. Enter Mardian the Eunuch. Cleo. Let it alone, let's to Billiards: come Charmian Char. My arme is sore, best play with Mardian Cleopa. As well a woman with an Eunuch plaide, as with a woman. Come you'le play with me Sir? Mardi. As well as I can Madam Cleo. And when good will is shewed, Though't come to short The Actor may pleade pardon. Ile none now, Giue me mine Angle, weele to'th' Riuer there My Musicke playing farre off. I will betray Tawny fine fishes, my bended hooke shall pierce Their slimy iawes: and as I draw them vp, Ile thinke them euery one an Anthony, And say, ah ha; y'are caught Char. 'Twas merry when you wager'd on your Angling, when your diuer did hang a salt fish on his hooke which he with feruencie drew vp Cleo. That time? Oh times: I laught him out of patience: and that night I laught him into patience, and next morne, Ere the ninth houre, I drunke him to his bed: Then put my Tires and Mantles on him, whilst I wore his Sword Phillippan. Oh from Italie, Enter a Messenger.
Men. For this, Ile neuer follow Thy paul'd Fortunes more, Who seekes and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, Shall neuer finde it more Pom. This health to Lepidus Ant. Beare him ashore, Ile pledge it for him Pompey Eno. Heere's to thee Menas Men. Enobarbus, welcome Pom. Fill till the cup be hid Eno. There's a strong Fellow Menas Men. Why? Eno. A beares the third part of the world man: seest not? Men. The third part, then he is drunk: would it were all, that it might go on wheeles Eno. Drinke thou: encrease the Reeles Men. Come Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian Feast Ant. It ripen's, towards it: strike the Vessells hoa. Heere's to Caesar Caesar. I could well forbear't, it's monstrous labour when I wash my braine, and it grow fouler Ant. Be a Child o'th' time Caesar. Possesse it, Ile make answer: but I had rather fast from all, foure dayes, then drinke so much in one Enob. Ha my braue Emperour, shall we daunce now the Egyptian Backenals, and celebrate our drinke? Pom. Let's ha't good Souldier Ant. Come, let's all take hands, Till that the conquering Wine hath steep't our sense, In soft and delicate Lethe Eno. All take hands: Make battery to our eares with the loud Musicke, The while, Ile place you, then the Boy shall sing. The holding euery man shall beate as loud, As his strong sides can volly.
Rom. Where is he now? Ven. He purposeth to Athens, whither with what hast The waight we must conuay with's, will permit: We shall appeare before him. On there, passe along. Exeunt. Enter Agrippa at one doore, Enobarbus at another. Agri. What are the Brothers parted? Eno. They haue dispatcht with Pompey, he is gone, The other three are Sealing. Octauia weepes To part from Rome: Caesar is sad, and Lepidus Since Pompey's feast, as Menas saies, is troubled With the Greene-Sicknesse Agri. 'Tis a Noble Lepidus Eno. A very fine one: oh, how he loues Caesar Agri. Nay but how deerely he adores Mark Anthony Eno. Caesar? why he's the Iupiter of men Ant. What's Anthony, the God of Iupiter? Eno. Spake you of Caesar? How, the non-pareill? Agri. Oh Anthony, oh thou Arabian Bird! Eno. Would you praise Caesar, say Caesar go no further Agr. Indeed he plied them both with excellent praises Eno. But he loues Caesar best, yet he loues Anthony: Hoo, Hearts, Tongues, Figure, Scribes, Bards, Poets, cannot Thinke speake, cast, write, sing, number: hoo, His loue to Anthony. But as for Caesar, Kneele downe, kneele downe, and wonder Agri. Both he loues Eno. They are his Shards, and he their Beetle, so: This is to horse: Adieu, Noble Agrippa Agri. Good Fortune worthy Souldier, and farewell. Enter Caesar, Anthony, Lepidus, and Octauia.
Agrip. Welcome Lady Mec. Welcome deere Madam, Each heart in Rome does loue and pitty you, Onely th' adulterous Anthony, most large In his abhominations, turnes you off, And giues his potent Regiment to a Trull That noyses it against vs Octa. Is it so sir? Caes Most certaine: Sister welcome: pray you Be euer knowne to patience. My deer'st Sister. Exeunt. Enter Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. Cleo. I will be euen with thee, doubt it not Eno. But why, why, why? Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these warres, And say'st it is not fit Eno. Well: is it, is it Cleo. If not, denounc'd against vs, why should not we be there in person Enob. Well, I could reply: if wee should serue with Horse and Mares together, the Horse were meerly lost: the Mares would beare a Soldiour and his Horse Cleo. What is't you say? Enob. Your presence needs must puzle Anthony, Take from his heart, take from his Braine, from's time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already Traduc'd for Leuity, and 'tis said in Rome, That Photinus an Eunuch, and your Maides Mannage this warre Cleo. Sinke Rome, and their tongues rot That speake against vs. A Charge we beare i'th' Warre, And as the president of my Kingdome will Appeare there for a man. Speake not against it, I will not stay behinde. Enter Anthony and Camidias.
Eno. How appeares the Fight? Scar. On our side, like the Token'd Pestilence, Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred Nagge of Egypt, (Whom Leprosie o're-take) i'th' midst o'th' fight, When vantage like a payre of Twinnes appear'd Both as the same, or rather ours the elder; (The Breeze vpon her) like a Cow in Iune, Hoists Sailes, and flyes Eno. That I beheld: Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not Indure a further view Scar. She once being looft, The Noble ruine of her Magicke, Anthony, Claps on his Sea-wing, and (like a doting Mallard) Leauing the Fight in heighth, flyes after her: I neuer saw an Action of such shame; Experience, Man-hood, Honor, ne're before, Did violate so it selfe Enob. Alacke, alacke. Enter Camidius Cam. Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath, And sinkes most lamentably. Had our Generall Bin what he knew himselfe, it had gone well: Oh his ha's giuen example for our flight, Most grossely by his owne Enob. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede Cam. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled Scar. 'Tis easie toot, And there I will attend what further comes Camid. To Caesar will I render My Legions and my Horse, sixe Kings alreadie Shew me the way of yeelding Eno. Ile yet follow The wounded chance of Anthony, though my reason Sits in the winde against me. Enter Anthony with Attendants.
Ant. Hearke, the Land bids me tread no more vpon't, It is asham'd to beare me. Friends, come hither, I am so lated in the world, that I Haue lost my way for euer. I haue a shippe, Laden with Gold, take that, diuide it: flye, And make your peace with Caesar Omnes. Fly? Not wee Ant. I haue fled my selfe, and haue instructed cowards To runne, and shew their shoulders. Friends be gone, I haue my selfe resolu'd vpon a course, Which has no neede of you. Be gone, My Treasure's in the Harbour. Take it: Oh, I follow'd that I blush to looke vpon, My very haires do mutiny: for the white Reproue the browne for rashnesse, and they them For feare, and doting. Friends be gone, you shall Haue Letters from me to some Friends, that will Sweepe your way for you. Pray you looke not sad, Nor make replyes of loathnesse, take the hint Which my dispaire proclaimes. Let them be left Which leaues it selfe, to the Sea-side straight way; I will possesse you of that ship and Treasure. Leaue me, I pray a little: pray you now, Nay do so: for indeede I haue lost command, Therefore I pray you, Ile see you by and by. Sits downe Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Eros.
Thid. Marke Anthony Ant. Tugge him away: being whipt Bring him againe, the Iacke of Caesars shall Beare vs an arrant to him. Exeunt. with Thidius. You were halfe blasted ere I knew you: Ha? Haue I my pillow left vnprest in Rome, Forborne the getting of a lawfull Race, And by a Iem of women, to be abus'd By one that lookes on Feeders? Cleo. Good my Lord Ant. You haue beene a boggeler euer, But when we in our viciousnesse grow hard (Oh misery on't) the wise Gods seele our eyes In our owne filth, drop our cleare iudgements, make vs Adore our errors, laugh at's while we strut To our confusion Cleo. Oh, is't come to this? Ant. I found you as a Morsell, cold vpon Dead Caesars Trencher: Nay, you were a Fragment Of Gneius Pompeyes, besides what hotter houres Vnregistred in vulgar Fame, you haue Luxuriously pickt out. For I am sure, Though you can guesse what Temperance should be, You know not what it is Cleo. Wherefore is this? Ant. To let a Fellow that will take rewards, And say, God quit you, be familiar with My play-fellow, your hand; this Kingly Seale, And plighter of high hearts. O that I were Vpon the hill of Basan, to out-roare The horned Heard, for I haue sauage cause, And to proclaime it ciuilly, were like A halter'd necke, which do's the Hangman thanke, For being yare about him. Is he whipt? Enter a Seruant with Thidias.
Omnes. The Gods forbid Ant. Well, my good Fellowes, wait on me to night: Scant not my Cups, and make as much of me, As when mine Empire was your Fellow too, And suffer'd my command Cleo. What does he meane? Eno. To make his Followers weepe Ant. Tend me to night; May be, it is the period of your duty, Haply you shall not see me more, or if, A mangled shadow. Perchance to morrow, You'l serue another Master. I looke on you, As one that takes his leaue. Mine honest Friends, I turne you not away, but like a Master Married to your good seruice, stay till death: Tend me to night two houres, I aske no more, And the Gods yeeld you for't Eno. What meane you (Sir) To giue them this discomfort? Looke they weepe, And I an Asse, am Onyon-ey'd; for shame, Transforme vs not to women Ant. 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 burne this night with Torches: Know (my hearts) I hope well of to morrow, and will leade you, Where rather Ile expect victorious life, Then death, and Honor. Let's to Supper, come, And drowne consideration.
Exeunt. Enter a Company of Soldiours. 1.Sol. Brother, goodnight: to morrow is the day 2.Sol. It will determine one way: Fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets 1 Nothing: what newes? 2 Belike 'tis but a Rumour, good night to you 1 Well sir, good night. They meete other Soldiers. 2 Souldiers, haue carefull Watch 1 And you: Goodnight, goodnight. They place themselues in euery corner of the Stage. 2 Heere we: and if to morrow Our Nauie thriue, I haue an absolute hope Our Landmen will stand vp 1 'Tis a braue Army, and full of purpose. Musicke of the Hoboyes is vnder the Stage. 2 Peace, what noise? 1 List, list 2 Hearke 1 Musicke i'th' Ayre 3 Vnder the earth 4 It signes well, do's it not? 3 No 1 Peace I say: What should this meane? 2 'Tis the God Hercules, whom Anthony loued, Now leaues him 1 Walke, let's see if other Watchmen Do heare what we do? 2 How now Maisters? Speak together. Omnes. How now? how now? do you heare this? 1 I, is't not strange? 3 Do you heare Masters? Do you heare? 1 Follow the noyse so farre as we haue quarter. Let's see how it will giue off Omnes. Content: 'Tis strange. Exeunt. Enter Anthony and Cleopatra, with others.
2 Come on then, he may recouer yet. Exeunt. Enter Anthony and Scarrus, with their Army. Ant. Their preparation is to day by Sea, We please them not by Land Scar. For both, my Lord Ant. I would they'ld fight i'th' Fire, or i'th' Ayre, Wee'ld fight there too. But this it is, our Foote Vpon the hilles adioyning to the Citty Shall stay with vs. Order for Sea is giuen, They haue put forth the Hauen: Where their appointment we may best discouer, And looke on their endeuour. Exeunt. Enter Caesar, and his Army. Caes But being charg'd, we will be still by Land, Which as I tak't we shall, for his best force Is forth to Man his Gallies. To the Vales, And hold our best aduantage. Exeunt. Alarum afarre off, as at a Sea-fight. Enter Anthony, and Scarrus. Ant. Yet they are not ioyn'd: Where yon'd Pine does stand, I shall discouer all. Ile bring thee word straight, how 'tis like to go. Enter. Scar. Swallowes haue built In Cleopatra's Sailes their nests. The Auguries Say, they know not, they cannot tell, looke grimly, And dare not speake their knowledge. Anthony, Is valiant, and deiected, and by starts His fretted Fortunes giue him hope and feare Of what he has, and has not. Enter Anthony.
Ant. All is lost: This fowle Egyptian hath betrayed me: My Fleete hath yeelded to the Foe, and yonder They cast their Caps vp, and Carowse together Like Friends long lost. Triple-turn'd Whore, 'tis thou Hast sold me to this Nouice, and my heart Makes onely Warres on thee. Bid them all flye: For when I am reueng'd vpon my Charme, I haue done all. Bid them all flye, be gone. Oh Sunne, thy vprise shall I see no more, Fortune, and Anthony part heere, euen heere Do we shake hands? All come to this? The hearts That pannelled me at heeles, to whom I gaue Their wishes, do dis-Candie, melt their sweets On blossoming Caesar: And this Pine is barkt, That ouer-top'd them all. Betray'd I am. Oh this false Soule of Egypt! this graue Charme, Whose eye beck'd forth my Wars, & cal'd them home: Whose Bosome was my Crownet, my chiefe end, Like a right Gypsie, hath at fast and loose Beguil'd me, to the very heart of losse. What Eros, Eros? Enter Cleopatra. Ah, thou Spell! Auaunt Cleo. Why is my Lord enrag'd against his Loue? Ant. Vanish, or I shall giue thee thy deseruing, And blemish Caesars Triumph. Let him take thee, And hoist thee vp to the shouting Plebeians, Follow his Chariot, like the greatest spot Of all thy Sex. Most Monster-like be shewne For poor'st Diminitiues, for Dolts, and let Patient Octauia, plough thy visage vp With her prepared nailes.
Caesar. Bid her haue good heart, She soone shall know of vs, by some of ours, How honourable, and how kindely Wee Determine for her. For Caesar cannot leaue to be vngentle aegypt. So the Gods preserue thee. Enter. Caes Come hither Proculeius. Go and say We purpose her no shame: giue her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require; Least in her greatnesse, by some mortall stroke She do defeate vs. For her life in Rome, Would be eternall in our Triumph: Go, And with your speediest bring vs what she sayes, And how you finde of her Pro. Caesar I shall. Exit Proculeius. Caes Gallus, go you along: where's Dolabella, to second Proculeius? All. Dolabella Caes Let him alone: for I remember now How hee's imployd: he shall in time be ready. Go with me to my Tent, where you shall see How hardly I was drawne into this Warre, How calme and gentle I proceeded still In all my Writings. Go with me, and see What I can shew in this. Exeunt. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian. Cleo. My desolation does begin to make A better life: Tis paltry to be Caesar: Not being Fortune, hee's but Fortunes knaue, A minister of her will: and it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accedents, and bolts vp change; Which sleepes, and neuer pallates more the dung, The beggers Nurse, and Caesars. Enter Proculeius.
Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remaine your debter Dol. I your Seruant: Adieu good Queene, I must attend on Caesar. Exit Cleo. Farewell, and thankes. Now Iras, what think'st thou? Thou, an Egyptian Puppet shall be shewne In Rome aswell as I: Mechanicke Slaues With greazie Aprons, Rules, and Hammers shall Vplift vs to the view. In their thicke breathes, Ranke of grosse dyet, shall we be enclowded, And forc'd to drinke their vapour Iras. The Gods forbid Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certaine Iras: sawcie Lictors Will catch at vs like Strumpets, and scald Rimers Ballads vs out a Tune. The quicke Comedians Extemporally will stage vs, and present Our Alexandrian Reuels: Anthony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra Boy my greatnesse I'th' posture of a Whore Iras. O the good Gods! Cleo. Nay that's certaine Iras. Ile neuer see't? for I am sure mine Nailes Are stronger then mine eyes Cleo. Why that's the way to foole their preparation, And to conquer their most absurd intents. Enter Charmian. Now Charmian. Shew me my Women like a Queene: Go fetch My best Attyres. I am againe for Cidrus, To meete Marke Anthony. Sirra Iras, go (Now Noble Charmian, wee'l dispatch indeede,) And when thou hast done this chare, Ile giue thee leaue To play till Doomesday: bring our Crowne, and all.
Dol. Oh sir, you are too sure an Augurer: That you did feare, is done Caesar. Brauest at the last, She leuell'd at our purposes, and being Royall Tooke her owne way: the manner of their deaths, I do not see them bleede Dol. Who was last with them? 1.Guard. A simple Countryman, that broght hir Figs: This was his Basket Caesar. Poyson'd then 1.Guard. Oh Caesar: This Charmian liu'd but now, she stood and spake: I found her trimming vp the Diadem; On her dead Mistris tremblingly she stood, And on the sodaine dropt Caesar. Oh Noble weakenesse: If they had swallow'd poyson, 'twould appeare By externall swelling: but she lookes like sleepe, As she would catch another Anthony In her strong toyle of Grace Dol. Heere on her brest, There is a vent of Bloud, and something blowne, The like is on her Arme 1.Guard. This is an Aspickes traile, And these Figge-leaues haue slime vpon them, such As th' Aspicke leaues vpon the Caues of Nyle Caesar. Most probable That so she dyed: for her Physitian tels mee She hath pursu'de Conclusions infinite Of easie wayes to dye. Take vp her bed, And beare her Women from the Monument, She shall be buried by her Anthony. No Graue vpon the earth shall clip in it A payre so famous: high euents as these Strike those that make them: and their Story is No lesse in pitty, then his Glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our Army shall In solemne shew, attend this Funerall, And then to Rome. Come Dolabella, see High Order, in this great Solemnity.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.