I must stay his time.

CLEO. ANT. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points?

CLEO. Not know me yet? ANT. Cold-hearted toward me? CLEO. Ah, dear, if I be so, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, And poison it in the source; and the first stone Drop in my neck: as it determines," so Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite!* Till, by degrees, the memory of my womb, Together with my brave Egyptians all,

By the discandying of this pelleted storm, Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile Have buried them for prey!

I am satisfied.

ANT. Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where I will oppose his fate. Our force by land

Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too

d

Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sealike.

Where hast thou been, my heart?-Dost thou hear, lady?

(*) First folio, Casarian smile.

-to quit me :] To repay, or requite me, for the indignity he receives at my hands.

b- as it determines,-] As it melts away. c-discandying-] Liquefying. The old copies read discandering, "from which corruption," Theobald says, "both Dr. Thirlby and I saw we must retrieve the word with which I have

That's my brave lord! ANT. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd, And fight maliciously: for when mine hours Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth, And send to darkness all that stop me.-Come, Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me All my sad captains; fill our bowls; once more Let's mock the midnight bell.

CLEO.

It is my birthday: I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.
ANT. We will yet do well.

CLEO. Call all his noble captains to my lord. ANT. Do so, we'll speak to them; and tonight 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 all except ENOBARBUS. ENO. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be

furious,

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.

(*) First folio, prayes in reason.

reformed the text."

[Exit.

d- and fleet,-] That is, float, the words of old being synony

mous.

e-one other gaudy night:] A festival night; from gaudium "Gaudy days" is still a collegiate term.

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.
CES.
Let our best heads
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.

againe to chalenge Cæsar to fight with him hande to hande. Cæsar auns werd him, that he had many other ways to die than so."

ANT.

'Tis 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:
This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable, [Kisses her.
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee

(*) Old text, thine. Corrected by Johnson.
(t) First folio, Alex.

athus it must be.] This and the two preceding speeches stand thus in the old copies,

"CLEO. Nay, Ile helpe too, Anthony.

Lead me.

He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might Determine this great war in single fight!

Then, Antony, but now,-Well, on. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Antony's Camp near Alexandria. Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS; an Officer meeting them.

OFF.

The gods make this a happy day to
Antony!

ANT. Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd

To make me fight at land!
OFF.*

Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Follow'd thy heels.

ANT.

OFF.

Who's gone this morning?

Who!

One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee; or from Cæsar's camp
Say, I am none of thine.

ANT. OFF.

He is with Cæsar. EROS.

What say'st thou? Sir,

Sir, his chests and treasure

Is he gone?

Most certain.

He has not with him.

ANT.

OFF.

ANT. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him (I will subscribe) gentle adieus and greetings; Say, that I wish he never find more cause To change a master.-O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men!-Despatch.-Enobarbus ! [Exeunt.