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

  ALEXAS Good majesty,

  Herod of Jewry5 dare not look upon you

  But when you are well pleased.

  CLEOPATRA That Herod's head

  I'll have: but how8, when Antony is gone

  Through whom I might command it?--Come thou near.

  MESSENGER Most gracious majesty.

  CLEOPATRA Didst thou behold Octavia?

  MESSENGER Ay, dread12 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 good21: 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 gait24? Remember,

  If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

  MESSENGER She creeps:

  Her motion and her station27 are as one.

  She shows28 a body rather than a life,

  A statue than a breather29.

  CLEOPATRA Is this certain?

  MESSENGER Or I have no observance31.

  CHARMIAN Three in Egypt cannot make better note.

  CLEOPATRA He's very knowing,

  I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet34:

  The fellow has good judgement.

  CHARMIAN Excellent.

  CLEOPATRA 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 colour?

  MESSENGER Brown, madam: and her forehead

  As low as she would wish it46.

  CLEOPATRA There's gold for thee.

  Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.

  I will employ thee back again49: I find thee

  Most fit for business. Go, make thee ready.

  Our letters are prepared.

  [Exit Messenger]

  CHARMIAN A proper52 man.

  CLEOPATRA Indeed, he is so: I repent me much

  That so I harried54 him. Why, methinks, by him,

  This creature's no such thing55.

  CHARMIAN Nothing, madam.

  CLEOPATRA The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

  CHARMIAN Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend58,

  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 warrant63 you, madam.

  [Exeunt]

  [Act 3 Scene 4]

  running scene 12

  Location: Athens, Greece

  * * *

  Enter Antony and Octavia

  ANTONY Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that1 --

  That were excusable, that, and thousands more

  Of semblable import3 -- but he hath waged

  New wars gainst Pompey, made his will, and read it

  To public ear4,

  Spoke scantly6 of me, when perforce he could not

  But pay me terms of honour: cold and sickly

  He vented8 them, most narrow measure lent me:

  When the best hint9 was given him, he not took't,

  Or did it from his teeth10.

  OCTAVIA O my good lord,

  Believe not all, or if you must believe,

  Stomach13 not all. A more unhappy lady,

  If this division chance14, ne'er stood between,

  Praying for both parts:

  The good gods will mock me presently16

  When I shall pray, 'O, bless my lord and husband!',

  Undo18 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 it23. If I lose mine honour,

  I lose myself: better I were not yours

  Than yours so branchless26. But, as you requested,

  Yourself shall go between's. The meantime, lady,

  I'll raise the preparation of a war28

  Shall stain29 your brother. Make your soonest haste,

  So your desires are yours30.

  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 cleave34, and that slain men

  Should solder up the rift.

  ANTONY When it appears to you where this begins36,

  Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults

  Can never be so equal that your love

  Can equally move with them37. Provide your going39,

  Choose your own company, and command what40 cost

  Your heart has mind to.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 5]

  running scene 12 continues

  * * *

  Enter Enobarbus and Eros

  Meeting

  ENOBARBUS How now, friend Eros?

  EROS There's strange news come, sir.

  ENOBARBUS What, man?

  EROS Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

  ENOBARBUS This is old. What is the success5?

  EROS Caesar, having made use of him6 in the wars gainst

  Pompey, presently7 denied him rivality, would not let him

  partake in the glory of the action8, and not resting here,

  accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey,

  upon his own appeal10 seizes him: so the poor third is up, till

  death enlarge his confine11.

  ENOBARBUS Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps12, no more,

  And throw between them all the food thou hast,

  They'll grind the one the other13. Where's Antony?

  EROS He's walking in the garden, thus, and spurns15

  lmitates

  The rush16 that lies before him, cries, 'Fool Lepidus!'

  And threats17 the throat of that his officer

  That murdered Pompey.

  Antony's angry walk

  ENOBARBUS Our great navy's rigged19.

  EROS For Italy and Caesar. More20, Domitius:

  My lord desires you presently21. My news

  I might have told hereafter.

  ENOBARBUS 'Twill be naught23,

  But let it be. Bring me to Antony.

  EROS Come, sir.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 6]

  running scene 13

  Location: Rome

  * * *

  Enter Agrippa, Maecenas and Caesar

  CAESAR Contemning1 Rome, he has done all this, and more

  In Alexandria. Here's the manner of't:

  I'th'market-place, on a tribunal3 silvered,

  Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold

  Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat

  Caesarion6, whom they call my father's son,

  And all the unlawful issue7 that their lust

  Since then hath made between them. Unto her

  He gave the stablishment9 of Egypt, made her

  Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

  Absolute queen.

  MAECENAS This in the public eye?

  CAESAR I'th'common show-place13 where they exercise.
/>   His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings:

  Great Media, Parthia and Armenia

  He gave to Alexander: to Ptolemy he assigned

  Syria, Cilicia17 and Phoenicia. She

  In th'habiliments18 of the goddess Isis

  That day appeared, and oft before gave audience,

  As 'tis reported, so.

  MAECENAS Let Rome be thus informed.

  AGRIPPA Who22, queasy with his insolence

  Already, will their good thoughts call from him23.

  CAESAR The people knows it, and have now received

  His accusations.

  AGRIPPA Who does he accuse?

  CAESAR Caesar: and that having in Sicily

  Sextus Pompeius spoiled28, we had not rated him

  His part o'th'isle. Then does he say he lent me

  Some shipping unrestored30. Lastly, he frets

  That Lepidus of the triumvirate

  Should be deposed and, being32, that we detain

  All his revenue.

  AGRIPPA Sir, this should be answered.

  CAESAR 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.

  I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,

  That he his high authority abused,

  And did deserve his change. For38 what I have conquered,

  I grant him part, but then in his Armenia

  And other of his conquered kingdoms, I

  Demand the like.

  MAECENAS He'll never yield to that.

  CAESAR Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

  Enter Octavia with her Train

  OCTAVIA Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!

  CAESAR That ever I should call thee castaway45!

  OCTAVIA You have not called me so, nor have you cause.

  CAESAR Why have you stol'n47 upon us thus? You come not

  Like48 Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony

  Should have an army for an usher, and

  The neighs of horse50 to tell of her approach

  Long ere she did appear: the trees by th'way51

  Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,

  Longing for what it had not: nay, the dust

  Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,

  Raised by your populous troops55. But you are come

  A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented56

  The ostentation57 of our love, which, left unshown,

  Is often left unloved. We should have met you

  By sea and land, supplying every stage

  With an augmented greeting59.

  OCTAVIA Good my lord,

  To come thus was I not constrained, but did it

  On my free will. My lord Mark Antony,

  Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted

  My grieved ear withal65, whereon, I begged

  His pardon for66 return.

  CAESAR Which soon he granted,

  Being an abstract68 'tween his lust and him.

  OCTAVIA Do not say so, my lord.

  CAESAR I have eyes70 upon him,

  And his affairs come to me on the wind.

  Where is he now?

  OCTAVIA My lord, in Athens.

  CAESAR No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra

  Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire

  Up to a who76re, who now are levying

  The kings o'th'earth for war. He hath assembled

  Bocchus, the King of Libya, Archelaus,

  Of Cappadocia79, Philadelphos, King

  Of Paphlagonia80, the Thracian king, Adallas,

  King Malchus of Arabia, King of Pont81,

  Herod of Jewry82, Mithridates, King

  Of Comagene83, Polemon and Amyntas,

  The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia84,

  With a more larger list of sceptres85.

  OCTAVIA Ay me, most wretched,

  That have my heart parted betwixt two friends

  That does afflict88 each other!

  CAESAR Welcome hither:

  Your letters did withhold our breaking forth90

  Till we perceived both how you were wrong led91

  And we in negligent danger92. Cheer your heart,

  Be you not troubled with the time93 which drives

  O'er your content these strong necessities,

  But let determined things to destiny

  Hold unbewailed their way95. Welcome to Rome,

  Nothing more dear to me97. You are abused

  Beyond the mark98 of thought, and the high gods,

  To do you justice, makes his ministers

  Of us99 and those that love you. Best of comfort,

  And ever welcome to us.

  AGRIPPA Welcome, lady.

  MAECENAS Welcome, dear madam.

  Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.

  Only th'adulterous Antony, most large105

  In his abominations106, turns you off

  And gives his potent regiment107 to a trull

  That noises it108 against us.

  OCTAVIA Is it so, sir?

  CAESAR Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you

  Be ever known to patience111, my dear'st sister!

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 7]

  running scene 14

  Location: Actium, on the north coast of Greece

  * * *

  Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus

  CLEOPATRA I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

  ENOBARBUS But why, why, why?

  CLEOPATRA Thou hast forspoke3 my being in these wars,

  And say'st it is not fit.

  ENOBARBUS Well, is it, is it?

  CLEOPATRA If not denounced against us6, why should not we

  Be there in person?

  Aside

  ENOBARBUS Well, I could reply:

  If we should serve9 with horse and mares together,

  The horse were merely lost10. The mares would bear

  A soldier and his horse.

  CLEOPATRA What is't you say?

  ENOBARBUS Your presence needs must puzzle13 Antony,

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

  What should not then be spared. He is already

  Traduced16 for levity, and 'tis said in Rome

  That Photinus an eunuch and your maids

  Manage this war.

  CLEOPATRA Sink Rome19, and their tongues rot

  That speak against us! A charge20 we bear i'th'war,

  And as the president21 of my kingdom will

  Appear there for22 a man. Speak not against it,

  I will not stay behind.

  Enter Antony and Canidius

  ENOBARBUS Nay, I have done.

  Here comes the emperor.

  ANTONY Is it not strange, Canidius,

  That from Tarentum and Brundusium27

  He could so quickly cut28 the Ionian Sea

  And take in29 Toryne?--You have heard on't, sweet?

  CLEOPATRA Celerity30 is never more admired

  Than by the negligent.

  ANTONY A good rebuke,

  Which might have well becomed33 the best of men,

  To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we

  Will fight with him by sea.

  CLEOPATRA By sea, what else?

  CANIDIUS Why will my lord do so?

  ANTONY For that he dares us to't.

  ENOBARBUS So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

  CANIDIUS Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia40,

  Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers,

  Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off,

  And so should you.

  ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well manned,

  Your mariners are muleteers45, reapers, people

  Ingrossed46 by swift impress. In Caesar's fleet

  Are those that often have gainst Pompey fought.

  Their ships are yare48, yours heavy: no disgrace

  Shall fall49 you for refusing him at sea,
r />   Being prepared for land.

  ANTONY By sea, by sea.

  ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir, you therein throw away

  The absolute53 soldiership you have by land,

  Distract54 your army, which doth most consist

  Of war-marked footmen55, leave unexecuted

  Your own renowned knowledge, quite forgo

  The way which promises assurance57, and

  Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard

  From firm security.

  ANTONY I'll fight at sea.

  CLEOPATRA I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

  ANTONY Our overplus62 of shipping will we burn,

  And with the rest full-manned, from th'head63 of Actium

  Beat th'approaching Caesar. But if we fail,

  We then can do't at land.--

  Enter a Messenger

  Thy business?

  MESSENGER The news is true, my lord: he is descried66.

  Caesar has taken Toryne.

  ANTONY Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible68

  Strange that his power69 should be. Canidius,

  Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land

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

  Away, my Thetis72!--

  Enter a Soldier

  How now, worthy soldier?

  SOLDIER O, noble emperor, do not fight by sea:

  Trust not to rotten planks74. Do you misdoubt

  This sword and these my wounds? Let th'Egyptians

  And the Phoenicians76 go a-ducking: we

  Have used77 to conquer standing on the earth

  And fighting foot to foot.

  ANTONY Well, well, away!

  Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus

  SOLDIER By Hercules80, I think I am i'th'right.

  CANIDIUS Soldier, thou art. But his whole action grows

  Not in the power on't81. So our leader's led,

  And we are women's men83.

  SOLDIER You keep by land

  The legions and the horse whole85, do you not?

  CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,

  Publicola and Caelius are for sea,

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

  Carries89 beyond belief.

  SOLDIER While he was yet90 in Rome,

  His power went out in such distractions91 as

  Beguiled92 all spies.

  CANIDIUS Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

  SOLDIER They say one Taurus.

  CANIDIUS Well I know the man.

  Enter a Messenger

  MESSENGER The emperor calls Canidius.

  CANIDIUS With news the time's in labour, and throws forth97

  Each minute, some.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 8]

  running scene 15

  Location: Actium

  * * *

  Enter Caesar [and Taurus] with his army, marching

  CAESAR Taurus!

  TAURUS My lord?

  CAESAR Strike not by land. Keep whole3, provoke not battle

  Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed4

  The prescript5 of this scroll: our fortune lies

  Gives him a scroll

  Upon this jump6.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 9]

  running scene 15 continues

  * * *

  Enter Antony and Enobarbus