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 : I spake to you for comfort; did desire you To burn this night with torches: Know, my hearts, Than death and honour.3 Let's to supper; come, SCENE III. [Exeunt. The same. 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, 'tis but a rumour : Good night to you. 1 Sold. 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. 3 Sold. 'Tis a brave army, And full of purpose. [Music of hautboys under the stage. 4 Sold. Peace, what noise ? 1 Sold. List, list! 2 Sold. Hark! 1 Sold. Music i'the air. 3 Sold. Under the earth. 4 Sold. It signs well,* Poes't not? 3 Sold. No. 1 Sold. Peace, I say. What should this mean? [3] That is, an honourable death. UPTON. [4] That is, it is a good sign, it bodes well, &c. STEEV. 2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, Now leaves him. 1 Sold. Walk; let's see if other watchmen Do hear what we do. [They advance to another post. 2 Sold. How now, masters? Sold. How now ? How now ? do you hear this? [Several speaking together. 1 Sold. Ay; is't not strange? 3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear? 1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how 'twill give off. Sold. [several speaking.] Content: 'Tis strange. The same. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. 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 armour,Eros ! Enter EROS, with armour. 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. What's this for? Ant. 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.-See'st thou, my good fellow? Eros. Briefly, sir.5 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.- [5] That is, quickly, sir. JOHNS. STEEV. 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 it with delight. 1 Of. A thousand, sir, Early though it be, have on their riveted trim, 2 Off. The morn is fair.-Good-morrow, general. 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. [Exeunt ANT. EROS, Officers and Soldiers. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. Lead me. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might SCENE V. [Exeunt. ANTONY'S Camp near Alexandria. Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier meeting them. Sold. 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! Sold. 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. Who's gone this morning? Sold. Who? One ever near thee: Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee; or from Cæsar's camp Ant. What say'st thou ? Sold. Sir, He is with Cæsar. Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him. Ant. Is he gone? Sold. Most certain. Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it ; SCENE VI. [Exeunt. CESAR'S Camp before Alexandria. Flourish. Enter CESAR, with AGRIPPA, ENOBARBUS, and others. Cas. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight : Our will is, Antony be took alive; Make it so known. Agr. Cæsar, I shall. Cas. The time of universal peace is near: [Exit. Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world Mes. Antony Enter a Messenger. Is come into the field. Cas. Go, charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. [Exeunt CESAR and his train. Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry, On affairs of Antony; there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Cæsar, [7] i.e. shall spring up every where spontaneously & without culture. WAR. To bear does not mean to produce, but to carry; and the meaning is, that the world shall then enjoy the blessings of peace, of which olive branches were the emblem. The success of Augustus could not so change the nature of things, as to make the olive-tree grow without culture in all titmat es, but it shut the gates of the temple of Janus. M. MASON. And leave his master Antony for this pains, Enter a Soldier of CESAR. Sold. Enobarbus, Antony Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with Eno. I give it you. Sold. Mock me not, Enobarbus. I tell you true: Best that you saf'd the bringer Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, [Exit. Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart : If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean Shall out-strike thought; but thought will do't, I feel. Some ditch, wherein to die; the foul'st best fits SCENE VII. [Exit. Field of Battle between the Camps. Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA, and others. Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far: Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression' Exceeds what we expected. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded. Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed ! Had we done so at first, we had driven them home [8] This generosity, (says Enobarbus,) swells my heart, so that it will quickly break, if thought break it not, a swifter mean. JOHNS. To blow means to puff or swell. STEEV. 19] Thought, in this passage, as in many others,signifies melancholy. MAL[1] Oppression for opposition. WARB. |