Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
For I have seen more years, I am sure, than ye.
Cas. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
Bru. Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
Cas. Bear with him, Brutus; 't is his fashion.
Bru. I'll know his humour, when he knows his time:
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
Companion, hence! Cas. Away, away, begone!
Exit Poet.
Enter Lucilius and Titinius.
Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.
Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with
Immediately to us.
[you,
[Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
Lucius, a bowl of wine.
Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.
Bru. Good reasons must, of force, give place to
The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground, [better
Do stand but in a forc'd affection;
For they have grudg'd us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd;
From which advantage shall we cut him off,
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.
Cas.
Hear me, good brother.
Bru. Under your pardon.-You must note beside,
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe :
The enemy increaseth every day,
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
so?-Or lose our ventures.
Cas.
Then, with your will, go on:
We 'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippt.
And nature must obey necessity;
Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?
Cas.
Bru.
Cas. I did not think you could have been so angry.
Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use,
If you give place to accidental evils.
Bru. No man bears sorrow better:-Portia is dead.
Cas. Ha! Portia? Bru. She is dead.
Cas. How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you
O insupportable and touching loss!--
Upon what sickness?
Bru.
Impatient of my absence;
And grief, that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong;-for with her
That tidings came:-With this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
Cas. And died so? Bru. Even so.
Cas. O ye immortal gods!
Enter Lucius, with wine and tapers.
No more. Good night:
Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence.
Bru. Lucius, my gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewell,
good Messala;
Good night, Titinius:-Noble, noble Cassius,
Bru. Speak no more of her.-Give me a bowl of Good night, and good repose.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge:-
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks.
Re-enter Titinius with Messala.
Bru. Come in, Titinius:-Welcome, good Mes-
Now sit we close about this taper here, [sala.-
And call in question our necessities.
Cas. Portia, art thou gone?
Bru.
No more, I pray you.-
Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Mes. Myself have letters of the self-same tenor.
Bru. With what addition?
Mes. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Have put to death an hundred senators.
Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree;
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
Čas. Cicero one? Mes. Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.-
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
Bru. No, Messala.
Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
Bru. Nothing, Messala.
Mes.
That, methinks, is strange.
Bru. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in
Mes. No, my lord.
[yours?
Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
Bru. Why, farewell, Portia.-We must die, Mes-
With meditating that she must die once, [sala;
I have the patience to endure it now.
Cas.
O my dear brother!
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Never come such division 'tween our souls!
Let it not, Brutus. Bru. Everything is well.
Cas. Good night, my lord.
Bru.
Good night, good brother.
Tit. Mes. Good night, lord Brutus.
Bru.
[Exeunt Cas., Tit., and Mes.
Re-enter Lucius, with the gown.
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
Luc. Here in the tent.
Bru.
What, thou speak'st drowsily?
Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd.
Call Claudius, and some other of my men:
I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
Luc. Varro, and Claudius!
Enter Varro and Claudius.
Bru. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent, and sleep;
It may be, I shall raise you by and by
On business to my brother Cassius.
Var. So please you, we will stand, and watch
your pleasure.
Bru. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs;
It may be, I shall otherwise bethink me.
Look, Lucius, here 's the book I sought for so:
I put it in the pocket of my gown.
[Servants lie down.
Luc. I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
Bru. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
Luc. Ay, my lord, an it please you.
Bru.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
Luc. It is my duty, sir.
Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
Mes. Even so great men great losses should en-I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
Cas. I have as much of this in art as you, [dure.
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?
Cas. I do not think it good.
Your reason?
Bru.
Cas. This it is:
'T is better that the enemy seek us;
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still,
Luc. I have slept, my lord, already.
Bru. It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again;
I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
I will be good to thee. [Music, and a Song.
This is a sleepy tune:-O murd'rous slumber!
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
That plays thee music?-Gentle knave, good night;
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;
I'll take it from thee: and, good boy, good night.
Let me see, let me see:-Is not the leaf turn'd down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
[He sits down.
Enter the Ghost of Cæsar.
How ill this taper burns !-Ha! who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me:-Art thou anything?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak'st my blood cold, and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art,
Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Bru.
Why com'st thou?
Ghost. To tell thee, thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Bru. Well: Then I shall see thee again?
Ghost.
Ay, at Philippi. [Ghost vanishes.
Bru. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then.-
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest:
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.-
Boy! Lucius!-Varro Claudius! Sirs, awake!-
Claudius!
Luc. The strings, my lord, are false.
Bru. He thinks he still is at his instrument.-
Lucius, awake! Luc. My lord. [criedst out?
Bru. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so
Luc. My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
Bru. Yes, that thou didst: Didst thou see any;
Luc. Nothing, my lord.
[thing?
Bru. Sleep again, Lucius.-Sirrah, Claudius!
Fellow thou! awake!
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
Ant.
Not stingless too.
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Bru. O, yes, and soundless too;
For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony,
And, very wisely, threat before you sting. [daggers
Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile
Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar: [hounds,
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like
And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind,
Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Cas. Flatterers!-Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
Oct. Come, come, the cause: If arguing make us
If Cassius might have rul'd.
[sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look; I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?—
Never, till Cæsar's three-and-thirty wounds
Be well aveng'd; or till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
Oct.
So I hope;
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such
Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable.
Join'd with a masker and a reveller.
Ant. Old Cassius still!
Oct.
Come, Antony; away.-
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
If not, when you have stomachs.
Bru. Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep? If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
Var. Clau. Dia we, my lord?
Bru.
Ay; saw you anything?|
Var. No, my lord, I saw nothing.
Clau.
Nor I, my lord.
Bru. Go, and commend me to my brother Cassius;
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
Var. Clau.
It shall be done, my lord.
SCENE I.-The Plains of Philippi.
Enter Octavius, Antony, and their Army.
Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered:
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions;
It proves not so: their battles are at hand;
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.
Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking, by this face,
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 't is not so.
Mess.
Prepare you, generals:
The enemy comes on in gallant show;
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
And something to be done immediately.
Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
Upon the left hand of the even field.
Oct. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left.
Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent?
Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March.
Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their Army;
Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, and others.
Bru. They stand, and would have parley.
Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: We must out and talk.
Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
Oct. Stir not until the signal.
Bru. Words before blows: Is it so, countrymen?
Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do.
Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes,
Octavius.
[words:
Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good
Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart,
Crying, 'Long live! hail Cæsar!' Cas. Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
[Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their Army. Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell, billow; and The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. swim, bark! Bru. Ho! Lucilius; hark, a word with you. Luc.
My lord.
[Brutus and Lucilius converse apart.
Cas. Messala,- Mes. What says my general?
Cas.
Messala,
This is my birthday; as this very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set
Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion: now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted us;
This morning are they filed away, and gone;
And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites,
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were sickly prey; their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Mes. Believe not so.
Cas,
I but believe it partly;
For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.
Bru. Even so, Lucilius.
The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may,
Now, most noble Brutus,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then determined to do?
Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself:-I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life :-arming myself with patience,
To stay the providence of some high powers,
That govern us below.
Cas.
Then, if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?
Br. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mind. But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:-
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then this parting was well made.
Cas. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus!
If we do meet again, we 'll smile indeed;
If not, 't is true this parting was well made.
Bru. Why then, lead on.-O, that a man might
The end of this day's business ere it come: [know
But it sufficeth that the day will end,
And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away!
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-The same. The Field of Battle.
Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.
Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side: [Loud alarum.
Let them set on at once; for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. [Exe.
SCENE III.-The same. Another Part of the Field.
Alarum. Enter Cassius and Titinius.
Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early:
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly; his soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd.
Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord!
Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.
Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
Tit. They are, my lord.
Cas.
Titinius, if thou lov'st me,
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
And here again; that I may rest assur'd
Whether yond' troops are friend or enemy.
Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought.
Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill:
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.-
[Exit Pindarus.
This day I breathed first: time is come round,
And where I did begin there shall I end;
My life is run his compass.-Sirrah, what news?
Pin. [Above.] O my lord! Cas. What news!
Pin. Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on.-Now they are almost on him;
Now, Titinius!-Now some 'light :-O, he 'lights
He's ta'en--and hark! they shout for joy. [Shout.
Cas. Come down, behold no more.-
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta'en before my face.
Enter Pindarus.
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do
[oath!
Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine
Now be a freeman; and, with this good sword,
That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: Here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 't is now,
Guide thou the sword.-Cæsar, thou art reveng'd,
Even with the sword that kill'd thee.
[Dies.
Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have been,
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit.
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.
Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
Tit.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart!
Mes. Is not that he?
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more.-O setting sun!
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set;
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone; [done!
Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men,
O hateful error, melancholy's child!
The things that are not? O error, soon conceiv'd,
Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.
Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?
Mes. Seek him, Titinius: whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears: I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel, and darts envenomed,
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight. Tit. Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
[Exit Messala. Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius! Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they Put on my brows this wreath of victory, And bid me give 't thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts ?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.
But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
Will do his bidding.-Brutus, come apace,
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.-
By your leave, gods :-This is a Roman's part:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
[Dies.
Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young
Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius.
Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
Mes. Lo, yonder; and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius' face is upward.
Cato.
He is slain.
Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet!
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums.
Brave Titinius!
Cato.
Look, whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius!
Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?—
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
It is impossible that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe more tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.-
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.-
Come, therefore, and to Thasos send his body;
His funerals shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us.-Lucilius, come-
And come, young Cato; let us to the field.-
Labeo, and Flavius, set our battles on:---
'T is three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV. Another Part of the Field.
Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Arm
ies; then Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and others.
Bru. Yet, countrymen, O yet hold up your heads!
Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with
I will proclaim my name about the field:-
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend;
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
[Charges the enemy.
Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, 1;
Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus.
[Exit, charging the enemy. Cato is over-
powered, and falls.
Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
And may'st be honour'd, being Cato's son.
1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest.
Luc.
Only I yield to die: There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; [Offering money. Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death. 1 Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner! 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Sold. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general:
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
Ant. Where is he?
Luc. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough;
I dare assure thee that no enemy
Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
The gods defend him from so great a shame!
When you do find him, or alive, or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
Ant. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you,
A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness: I had rather have
Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on,
And see whe'r Brutus be alive, or dead:
And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent,
How everything is chanc'd.
SCENE V.-Another Part of the Field.
Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and
Volumnius.
Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
Cli. Statilius show'd the torchlight; but, my lord, He came not back; he is or ta'en, or slain. Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: Slaying is the word; It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
[Whispering. Cli. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world. Bru. Peace then, no words. Cli.
I'll rather kill myself. Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius.-Whispers him. Dar. Shall I do such a deed? Dar. O, Clitus! Brutus make to thee? Look, he meditates.
Cli. O, Dardanius! Cli. What ill request did Dar. To kill him, Clitus. Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: list a word. Vol. What says my lord? Bru.
Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Cæsar hath appeared to me Two several times by night at Sardis, once; And, this last night, here in Philippi fields. I know my hour is come.
Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit: It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know'st that we two went to school together;
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Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too, Strato.-Countrymen,
My heart doth joy that yet, in all my life,
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's history:
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
[Alarum. Cry within; Fly, fly, fly!
Cli. Fly, my lord, fly!
Hence; I will follow. [Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius. I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it: Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lord.
Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
[He runs on his sword, and dies. Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and their army.
Mes. My master's man.--Strato, where is thy
master?
Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala;
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.
Luc. So Brutus should be found.-I thank thee,
Brutus,
That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true.
Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Oct. Do so, good Messala.
Mes.
How died my master, Strato?
Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it.
Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
That did the latest service to my master.
Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;
He only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand
And say to all the world, 'This was a man!
Oct. According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.-
So, call the field to rest: and let 's away,
To part the glories of this happy day.
M. ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, | MENAS, MENECRATES, VAR-A Soothsayer.
M. AMIL. LEPIDUS; trium-
virs.
SEXTUS POMPEIUS.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, VENTIDIUS, EROS, SCARUS, DERCETAS, DEMETRIUS, PHILO; friends of Antony.
RIUS; friends of Pompey.
TAURUS, lieutenant-general to
Cesar.
CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt. CANIDIUS, lieutenant-general to OCTAVIA, sister to Cæsar, and wife to Antony.
SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's CHARMIAN and IRAS, attendants on Cleopatra.
MECANAS, AGRIPPA, DOLA-EUPHRONIUS, an ambassador Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and
BELLA, PROCULEIUS, THYREUS, GALLUS; friends of Cæsar.
from Antony to Cesar. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEU
CUS, and DIOMEDES; attend-SCENE.-Dispersed; in several
ants on Cleopatra.
parts of the Roman Empire.
SCENE I.-Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Let 's not confound the time with conference harsh:
Enter Demetrius and Philo.
Phi. 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 glow'd 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, reneagues all temper;
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come !
Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with their
Trains; Eunuchs fanning her.
Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple pillar of the world transforin'd
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours,
There 's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now: What sport to-night!
Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.
Ant.
Fie, wrangling queen!
Whom everything becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weep; whose every passion fully strives
To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd!
No messenger; but thine and all alone,
To-night we 'll wander through the streets, and note
The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it :--Speak not to us.
[Exeunt Ant. and Cleop., with their Train.
Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
Dem.
That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome: But I wiil hope
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! [Ex.
Att. News, my good lord, from Rome-
Ant.
Grates me :-The sum.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:
Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæsar 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.'
Ant.
How, my love!
Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.
Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's, I would say.
-Both.-
Call in the messengers.-As I am Egypt's queen,
Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine'
Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame
When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.The mes-
Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough
Cleopatra's health to drink.
Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth, I make not, but foresee.
Char. Pray then, foresee me one.
Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
Char. He means in flesh.
Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.
Char. Wrinkles forbid!
Alex. Vex not his prescience: be attentive.
Char. Hush!
Sooth. You shall be more beloving than belov'd.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Alex. Nay, hear him.
Char. 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 Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress.
Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you serve. Char. O excellent! I love long life better than figs.
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