SCENE, Cæfar's Camp.

Enter Cæfar, Agrippa, and Mecenas, with their Army. Cæfar reading a Letter.

H

CÆSAR.

E calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger

He hath whipt with rods, dares me to personal
combat,

Cæfar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know,
I have many other ways to die: mean time,
Laugh at his challenge.

Mec. Cafar must think,

When one fo 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.

Caf. Let our best heads

Know that to morrow the laft of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are
Of those that ferv'd Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See, it be done;
And feaft the army; we have store to do't,
And they have earn'd the wafte. Poor Antony!

[Exeunt

SCENE, the Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, with others.

Ant. HE will not fight with me, Domitius.

Eno. No.

Ant. Why fhould he not?

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He's

He's twenty men to one.

Ant. To morrow, foldier,

By fea 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 ftrike, and cry, "take all.

Ant. Well faid, come on:

Call forth my houshold servants, let's to night
Enter Servants.

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

And thou, and thou, and thou: you've serv'd me well,
And Kings have been your fellows.

Cleo. What means this?

Eno. 'Tis one of those odd tricks, which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.

Ant. And thou art honest too :

I wish, I could be made fo many men;
And all of you clapt up together in
An Antony; that I might do you service,
So good as you have done.

Omnes. 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 fuffer'd my command.

Cleo. What does he mean?

Eno. To make his followers weep.
Ant. Tend me to night;

May be, it is the period of your duty;
Haply, you shall not fee me more; or if,

A mangled fhadow. It may chance to morrow,
You'll ferve another mafter. 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 fervice, ftay 'till death:
Tend me to night two hours, I ask no more,
And the Gods yield you for't!

Eno. What mean you, Sir,

To

To give them this difcomfort? look, they weep.
And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd; for shame,
Transform us not to women.

Ant. Ho, ho, ho!

Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus !
Grace grows where thofe drops fall! my hearty friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense;

I spake to' you for

your comfort, did defire 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,

Than death and honour. Let's to fupper, come,
And drown confideration.

[Exeunt.

SCENE, a Court of Guard before the Palace. Enter a company of Soldiers.

1 Sold. BRother, good night: to morrow is the day. 2 Sold. It will determine one way: Fare you well.

Heard you of nothing ftrange about the streets? 1 Sold. Nothing: what news?

2 Sold. Belike, 'tis but a rumour; good night to you. 1 Sold. Well, Sir, good night.

[They meet with other Soldiers.

2 Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch.

1 Sold. And you, good night, good night.

[They place themselves in every corner of the stage.

2 Sold. Here, we; and if to morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an abfolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

1 Sold. 'Tis a brave army, and full of purpose.

[Mufick of the baut boys is under the stage.

2 Sold. Peace, what noife?

1 Sold. Lift, lift!

2 Sold. Hark!

1 Sold. Mufick i' th'air.

3 Sold. Under the earth.

It fignes well, does it not? 2 Sold. No.

I Seld.

1 Sold. Peace, I fay: what fhould this mean? 2 Sold. 'Tis the God Hercules, who lov'd Antony, Now leaves him.

1 Sold. Walk, let's fee if other watchmen

Do hear what we do.

2 Sold. How now,

mafters ?

[Speak together.

Omnes. How now? how now? do you hear this ? 1 Sold. Is't not ftrange?

3 Sold. Do you hear, mafters? do you hear? Sold Follow the noife fo far as we have quarter, Let's fee how 'twill give off.

Omnes. Content: 'tis ftrange.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to Cleopatra's Palace.

Ant. E

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with others.

ROS, mine armour, Eros.

Cleo. Sleep a little.

Ant. No, my chuck: Eros, come, mine armour, Eros.

Enter Eros.

Come, my good fellow, put thine iron on?
If fortune be not ours to day, it is
Because we brave her. Come.

Cleo. Nay, I'll help too, Antony.

་

What's this for? ah, let be, let be; thou art

The armourer of my heart;-false, false; this, this ;-Sooth-la, I'll help: thus it muft be.

Ant. Well, well, we shall thrive now;

Seeft thou, my good fellow? Go put on thy defences.
Eno. 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, fhall hear a storm.
Thou fumbleft, Eros; and my Queen's a fquire
More tight at this than thou; dispatch. O love!
That thou could'ft fee my wars to day, and knew'st
The royal occupation; thou should'st fee

A workman in't.

Enter

Enter an armed Soldier.

Good morrow to thee, welcome;

Thou look'st like him, that knows a warlike charge:
To business that we love we rife betime,

And go to't with delight.

Sold. A thousand, Sir,

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

And at the port expect you.

Shout. Trumpets flourish.

Enter Captains and Soldiers.

Cap. The morn is fair; good morrow, General!
All. Good morrow, General !

Ant. 'Tis well blown, lads.

This morning, like the fpirit of a youth

That means to be of note, begins betimes.

So, fo; come, give me that,—this way-well faid.
Fare thee well, dame, what e'er becomes of me,
This is a foldier's kifs; rebukeable,
And worthy fhameful cheek it were, to fland
On more mechanick compliment: I'll leave thee
Now, like a man of steel. You, that will fight,
Follow me clofe, I'll bring you to't: adieu.

Char. Please you to retire to your chamber?
Cleo. Lead me:

[Exeunt.

He goes forth gallantly: That he and Cefar might
Determine this great war in fingle fight!

Then, Antony,but now,

well on.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to a Camp.

Trumpets found. Enter Antony, and Eros; a Soldier

meeting them.

HE Gods make this a happy day to
Antony!

Sold. (27)

THE

Ant.

(27) Eros. The Gods make This a happy Day to Antony!] ('Tis evident, as Dr. Thirlby likewife conjectur'd, by what Antony