Antony and Cleopatra (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series) Read online

  ALEXAS 'Good friend,' quoth49 he,

  'Say the firm50 Roman to great Egypt sends

  This treasure of an oyster, at whose foot,

  To mend52 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 steed55

  Who neighed so high56 that what I would have spoke

  Was beastly dumbed57 by him.

  CLEOPATRA What, was he sad, or merry?

  ALEXAS Like to the time o'th'year between the extremes

  Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor60 merry.

  CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him,

  Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man62; but note him.

  He was not sad, for he would shine on those

  That make their looks by his64: 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 violence68 of either thee becomes,

  So does it no man else.--Met'st thou my posts69?

  ALEXAS Ay, madam, twenty several70 messengers.

  Why do you send so thick71?

  CLEOPATRA Who's72 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 paragon82 again

  My man of men.

  CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon,

  I sing but after you.

  CLEOPATRA My salad days,

  When I was green87 in judgement, 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!

  Exeunt

  [Act 2 Scene 1]

  running scene 4

  Location: Sicily

  * * *

  Enter Pompey, Menecrates and Menas, in warlike manner

  POMPEY If the great gods be just, they shall assist

  The deeds of justest men.

  MENECRATES Know, worthy Pompey,

  That what they do delay, they not deny4.

  POMPEY Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays

  The thing we sue for5.

  MENECRATES 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 sea12 is mine;

  My powers13 are crescent, and my auguring hope

  Says it will come to th'full. Mark Antony

  In Egypt sits at dinner15, and will make

  No wars without16 doors: Caesar gets money where

  He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,

  Of18 both is flattered, but he neither loves,

  Nor either cares for him.

  MENAS Caesar and Lepidus are in the field:

  A mighty strength21 they carry.

  POMPEY Where have you this? 'Tis false.

  MENAS From Silvius, sir.

  POMPEY He dreams. I know they are in Rome together,

  Looking for25 Antony. But all the charms of love,

  Salt26 Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!

  Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both,

  Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts:

  Keep his brain fuming29: epicurean cooks

  Sharpen with cloyless30 sauce his appetite

  That31 sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,

  Even till a Lethe'd32 dullness--

  Enter Varrius

  How now, Varrius?

  VARRIUS This is most certain that I shall deliver33:

  Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

  Expected. Since he went from Egypt 'tis

  A space for35 further travel.

  POMPEY I could have given less matter37

  A better ear38. Menas, I did not think

  This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm39

  For such a petty war: his soldiership

  Is twice the other twain40. But let us rear

  The higher our opinion41, that our stirring

  Can from the lap43 of Egypt's widow pluck

  The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.

  MENAS I cannot hope45

  Caesar and Antony shall well greet together46;

  His wife that's dead47 did trespasses to Caesar:

  His brother48 warred upon him, although I think

  Not moved49 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 pregnant53 they should square between themselves,

  For they have entertained54 cause enough

  To draw their swords. But how the fear of us

  May cement their divisions, and bind up

  The petty difference, we yet not57 know.

  Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands

  Our lives upon to use our strongest hands58.

  Come, Menas.

  Exeunt

  [Act 2 Scene 2]

  running scene 5

  Location: Rome

  * * *

  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 himself5: if Caesar move him,

  Let Antony look over Caesar's head6

  And speak as loud as Mars7. By Jupiter,

  Were I the wearer of Antonio's beard,

  I would not shave't today9!

  LEPIDUS 'Tis not a time for private stomaching10.

  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 Antony and Ventidius

  ENOBARBUS And yonder Caesar.

  Enter Caesar, Maecenas and Agrippa

  ANTONY If we compose19 well here, to Parthia.

  Hark, Ventidius20.

  They converse apart

  CAESAR I do not know, Maecenas, ask Agrippa.

  LEPIDUS Noble friends,

  That which combined23 us was most great, and let not

  A leaner action rend us24. What's amiss,

  May it be gently25 heard. When we debate

  Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

  Murder in healing wounds26. Then, noble partners,

  The rather for28 I earnestly beseech,

  Touch29 you the sourest points with sweetest terms,

  Nor curstness grow to th'matter30.

  ANTONY 'Tis spoken well:

  Were we before our armies, and to32 fight,

  I should do thus.

  Flourish

  CAESAR Welcome to Rome.

  ANTONY Thank you.

  CAESAR Sit.

  ANTONY Sit, sir.

  CAESAR Nay then38.

  Caesar sits, then Antony

  ANTONY I learn you take things ill which are not so,

  Or being40, concern you not.

  CAESAR I must be laughed at

  If, or42 for no
thing or a little, I

  Should say myself offended, and with you

  Chiefly i'th'world44: more laughed at that I should

  Once name you derogately45 when to sound your name

  It not concerned me46.

  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 practise on my state51, your being in Egypt

  Might be my question52.

  ANTONY How intend you53, 'practised'?

  CAESAR You may be pleased to catch at54 mine intent

  By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother

  Made wars upon me, and their contestation56

  Was theme for you57: you were the word of war.

  ANTONY You do mistake your business. My brother never

  Did urge me59 in his act: I did inquire it,

  And have my learning60 from some true reports

  That drew their swords with you61. Did he not rather

  Discredit my authority with62 yours,

  And make the wars alike against my stomach63,

  Having alike your cause64? Of this my letters

  Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch65 a quarrel,

  As matter whole66 you have to make it with,

  It must not be with this.

  CAESAR You praise yourself

  By laying defects of judgement 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 thought72, that I,

  Your partner in the cause gainst which he74 fought,

  Could not with graceful75 eyes attend those wars

  Which fronted76 mine own peace. As for my wife,

  I would you had her spirit in such another77:

  The third o'th'world is yours, which with a snaffle78

  You may pace79 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 uncurbable82, her garboils, Caesar,

  Made out of her impatience -- which not wanted83

  Shrewdness of policy84 too -- I grieving grant

  Did you too much disquiet. For that you must

  But86 say I could not help it.

  CAESAR I wrote to you:

  When rioting88 in Alexandria you

  Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts

  Did gibe my missive out of audience90.

  ANTONY Sir,

  He fell upon me ere admitted92, then.

  Three kings I had newly93 feasted, and did want

  Of what I was i'th'morning. But next day

  I told him of myself95, which was as much

  As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow

  Be nothing97 of our strife: if we contend,

  Out of our question98 wipe him.

  CAESAR You have broken

  The article100 of your oath, which you shall never

  Have tongue to charge me with.

  LEPIDUS Soft102, Caesar!

  ANTONY No, Lepidus, let him speak.

  The honour is sacred which he talks on now,

  Supposing105 that I lacked it. But, on, Caesar:

  The article of my oath--

  CAESAR To lend me arms and aid when I required107 them,

  The which you both denied.

  ANTONY Neglected rather:

  And then when poisoned hours had bound me up

  From mine own knowledge111. 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 it113. Truth is that Fulvia,

  To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,

  For which myself, the ignorant motive116, do

  So far ask pardon as befits mine honour

  To stoop in such a case.

  LEPIDUS 'Tis noble spoken.

  MAECENAS If it might please you to enforce no further

  The griefs121 between ye, to forget them quite

  Were to remember that the present need

  Speaks to atone123 you.

  LEPIDUS Worthily spoken, Maecenas.

  ENOBARBUS Or, if you borrow one another's love for the

  instant126, 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 presence131, therefore speak no more.

  ENOBARBUS Go to, then!132 You 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 conditions135

  So diff'ring in their acts. Yet if I knew

  What hoop should hold us staunch137, 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 side141,

  Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony

  Is now a widower.

  CAESAR Say not so, Agrippa:

  If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

  Were well deserved of rashness145.

  ANTONY I am not married, Caesar: let me hear

  Agrippa further speak.

  AGRIPPA To hold you in perpetual amity149,

  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 utter154. By this marriage

  All little jealousies156 which now seem great,

  And all great fears which now import157 their dangers

  Would then be nothing. Truths158 would be tales,

  Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both159

  Would each to other, and all loves to both

  Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,

  For 'tis a studied, not a present162 thought,

  By duty ruminated.

  ANTONY Will Caesar speak?

  CAESAR Not till he hears how Antony is touched

  With165 what is spoke already.

  ANTONY What power167 is in Agrippa,

  If I would168 say, 'Agrippa, be it so',

  To make this good?

  CAESAR The power of Caesar, and

  His power unto171 Octavia.

  ANTONY May I never,

  To this good purpose that so fairly shows173,

  Dream of impediment174! Let me have thy hand.

  Further this act of grace175, and from this hour

  The heart of brothers govern in our loves

  And sway our great designs!

  They clasp hands

  CAESAR There's my hand:

  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 again181!

  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 me185. I must thank him, only

  Lest my remembrance187 suffer ill report:

  At heel of that, defy him188.

  LEPIDUS Time calls upon's.

  Of190 us must Pompey presently be sought,

  Or else he seeks out us.

  ANTONY Where lies he?

  CAESAR About the Mount Misena193.

  ANTONY What is his strength by land
?

  CAESAR Great and increasing, but by sea

  He is an absolute master.

  ANTONY So is the fame197.

  Would we had spoke together!198 Haste we for it.

  Yet, ere199 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 view202,

  Whither straight I'll lead you.

  ANTONY Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.

  LEPIDUS Noble Antony,

  Not206 sickness should detain me.

  Flourish. Exeunt all. Enobarbus, Agrippa, Maecenas remain

  MAECENAS Welcome from Egypt, sir.

  ENOBARBUS Half the heart208 of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My

  honourable friend, Agrippa!

  AGRIPPA Good Enobarbus!

  MAECENAS We have cause to be glad that matters are so well

  digested212. You stayed well by't in Egypt.

  ENOBARBUS Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance213 and

  made the night light214 with drinking.

  MAECENAS Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and

  but216 twelve persons there. Is this true?

  ENOBARBUS This was but as a fly by217 an eagle: we had much

  more monstrous matter218 of feast, which worthily deserved

  noting.

  MAECENAS She's a most triumphant220 lady, if report be square to

  her.

  ENOBARBUS When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed222 up

  his heart upon the river of Cydnus223.

  AGRIPPA There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised

  well for her224.

  ENOBARBUS I will tell you

  The barge she sat in, like a burnished227 throne,

  Burned228 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 strokes233. For her own person,

  It beggared all description: she did lie

  In her pavilion, cloth-of-gold of tissue235,

  O'er-picturing that Venus where we see

  The fancy out-work nature236: on each side her237

  Stood pretty dimpled boys, like238 smiling Cupids,

  With divers-coloured239 fans whose wind did seem

  To glow240 the delicate cheeks which they did cool,

  And what they undid did.

  AGRIPPA O, rare242 for Antony!

  ENOBARBUS Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides243,

  So many mermaids, tended her i'th'eyes244,

  And made their bends adornings245. At the helm

  A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle246

  Swell247 with the touches of those flower-soft hands

  That yarely frame the office248. From the barge

  A strange invisible perfume hits the sense

  Of the adjacent wharfs250. 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 vacancy253,

  Had254 gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,

  And made a gap in nature.

  AGRIPPA Rare Egyptian256!

  ENOBARBUS Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,

  Invited her to supper: she replied

  It should be better he became her guest,