CLEO. Call all his noble captains to my lora.

ANT. Do so, we 'll speak to them; and to-ught 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 ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and Attendants. To be furious,

ENO. Now he'll outstare the lightning.

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 IV

SCENE I-Cæsar's Camp at Alexandria.

Enter CESAR, reading a letter; AGRIPPA, MECENAS, and others.

CES. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger

He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know,

I have many other ways to die; mean time,
Laugh at his challenge.

MEC.

Cæsar 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.

Let our best heads

CES.
Know, that to-morrow 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.

SCENE II.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and others.

ANT. He will not fight, with me, Domitius?

ENO.

ANT. Why should he not?

No.

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

ANT.

To-morrow, 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?
ENO. I'll strike; and cry, "Take all."

ANT.

Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants; let 's to-night

Enter Servants.

Be bounteous at our meal.-Give me thy hand,
Thou hast been rightly honest;-so hast thou ;-

Thou, and thou,-and thou:-you have serv'd me well,
And kings have been your fellows.

CLEO.

What means this?

ENO. "T is one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots

Out of the mind.

ANT.

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.

SERV.

The gods forbid!

ANT. Well, my good fellows, 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.

[Aside.

What does he mean?

CLEO.

ENO. To make his followers weep.
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'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 to-night two hours, I ask no more.
And the gods yield you for 't!

ENO.

To give them this discomfort?

What mean you, sir,

Look, they weep; And I, an ass, am onion-eyed; for shame,

Transform us not to woinen.

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 to-morrow; and will lead you

Where rather I 'll expect victorious life,

Let's to supper; come,

Than death and honour.

And drown consideration.

SCENE III.The same.

[Exeunt.

Before the Palace.

Enter Two Soldiers, to their Guard.

1 SOLD. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. 2 SOLD. It will determine one way: fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

1 SOLD. Nothing: What news?

2 SOLD.

Belike, 't is but a rumour:

Well, sir, good night.

Enter Two other Soldiers.

2 SOLD.

Soldiers,

Have careful watch.

3 SOLD.

And you: Good night, good night.

[The first two place themselves at their posts.

4 SOLD. Here we [they take their posts]: and if to-morrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

2 SOLD. "T is the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,

3 SOLD. Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

1 SOLD. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;

Let's see how 't will give off.

SOLDIERS. [Several speaking.] Content: "T is strange.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA; CHARMIAN, and others,

.

attending.

ANT. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEO.

Sleep a little.

ANT. No, my chuck.-Eros, come; mine araour, Eros!

Enter EROS, with armour.

Come, good fellow, put thine iron on:-
If fortune be not ours to-day, it is

Because we brave her.-Come.

CLEO.

What's this for?

ANT.

Nay, I'll help too.

Ah, let be, let be! thou art

The armourer of my heart;-False, false; this, this.
CLEO. Sooth, la, I'll help: Thus it must be.
ANT.

Well, well

We shall thrive now.-Seest thou, my good fellow?
Go, put on thy defences.

EROS.

Briefly, sir.

CLEO. Is not this buckled well?

ANT.

Rarely, rarely;
He that unbuckles this, till we do please

To doff 't for our repose, shall hear a storm.-
Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen 's a squire
More tight at this than thou: Despatch.-O love,
That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st
The royal occupation! thou shouldst see

Enter an Officer, armed.

A workman in 't.-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.

1 OFF.

A thousand, sir,

Early though 't be, have on their riveted trim,

And at the port expect you. [Shout. Trumpets. Flourish

Enter other Officers, and Soldiers.

2 OFF. The morn is fair.-Good morrow, general.

ALL. Good morrow, general.

ANT.
"T is 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.