Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. Enter Antony and Scarus ANTONY         Yet they are not joined. Where yon pine does stand I shall discover all. I’ll bring thee word Straight how ’tis like to go. Exit SCARUS                      Swallows have built In Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augurers Say they know not, they cannot […]

Enter Caesar and his army CAESAR          But being charged, we will be still by land— Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best force Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, And hold our best advantage. Exeunt                         (4.12.1-4)   More rapid cutting between scenes; the action’s continuous, pretty much, and it wouldn’t […]

Enter Antony and Scarus with their army ANTONY         Their preparation is today by sea; We please them not by land. SCARUS                      For both, my lord. ANTONY         I would they’d fight i’th’ fire or i’th’ air; We’d fight there too. But this it is: our foot Upon the hills adjoining to the city Shall stay with […]

FIRST WATCH                       Let’s speak to him. SENTRY          Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks May concern Caesar. SECOND WATCH       Let’s do so. But he sleeps. SENTRY Swoons, rather, for so bad a prayer as his Was never yet for sleep. FIRST WATCH Go we to him. SECOND WATCH Awake, sir, awake; speak to us. […]

ENOBARBUS  O, sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, That life, a very rebel to my will, May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart Against the flint and hardness of my fault, Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, And finish all foul thoughts. O […]

Enter a Sentry and his company; Enobarbus follows SENTRY          If we be not relieved within this hour We must return to th’ court of guard. The night Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle By th’ second hour i’th’ morn. FIRST WATCH                       This last day was A shrewd one to’s. ENOBARBUS              O bear […]

CLEOPATRA              I’ll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold. It was a king’s. ANTONY         He has deserved it, were it carbuncled Like holy Phoebus’ car. Give me thy hand. Through Alexandria make a jolly march. Bear our hacked targets like the men that own them. Had our great palace the capacity To camp […]

ANTONY                                 My nightingale, We have beat them to their beds. What, girl, though grey Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ we A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man. Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand; Kiss it, my warrior. He hath fought […]

Enter Cleopatra ANTONY         [To Scarus]     Give me thy hand. To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts, Make her thanks bless thee. [To Cleopatra]                        O thou day o’th’ world, Chain mine armed neck; leap thou, attire and all, Through proof of harness to my heart, and there Ride on the pants triumphing. CLEOPATRA              Lord of […]

Alarum. Enter Antony again in a march, with others [including soldiers, drummers and trumpeters, and Scarus] ANTONY         We have beat him to his camp. Run one before, And let the Queen know of our gests. Tomorrow, Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the blood That has today escaped. I thank you all, For doughty-handed are […]