Enter a Soldier ANTONY                     How now, worthy soldier? SOLDIER         O, noble Emperor, do not fight by sea. Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let th’Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we Have used to conquer standing on the earth, And fighting foot to foot. ANTONY                     Well, well; […]

Enter a Messenger ANTONY                     Thy business? MESSENGER  The news is true, my lord. He is descried. Caesar has taken Toryne. ANTONY         Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible; Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. Away, my […]

CLEOPATRA  I have sixty sails, Caesar none better. ANTONY         Our overplus of shipping will we burn, And with the rest full-manned, from th’head of Actium Beat th’approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do’t at land.      (3.7.49-53)   And now Cleopatra weighs in, Antony’s folie de grandeur becoming a kind of folie à […]

(ENOBARBUS  Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo The way which promises assurance, and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard From firm security. ANTONY                     I’ll fight at sea.           […]

ENOBARBUS  So hath my lord dared him to single fight. CANIDIUS      Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off, And so should you. ENOBARBUS  Your ships are not well manned, Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Engrossed by […]

Enter Antony and Canidius ENOBARBUS              Nay, I have done. Here comes the Emperor. ANTONY                                 Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundisium He could so quickly cut the Ionian Sea And take in Toryne?—You have heard on’t, sweet? CLEOPATRA  Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent. ANTONY                     A good rebuke, Which […]

ENOBARBUS  Your presence needs must puzzle Antony, Take from his heart, take from his brain, from’s time What should not then be spared. He is already Traduced for levity, and ’tis said in Rome That Photinus, an eunuch, and your maids Manage this war. CLEOPATRA   Sink Rome, and their tongues rot That speak against us! […]

Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus CLEOPATRA   I will be even with thee, doubt it not. ENOBARBUS  But why, why, why? CLEOPATRA   Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, And sayst it is not fit. ENOBARBUS  Well, is it, is it? CLEOPATRA   Is’t not denounced against us? Why should not we Be there in person? ENOBARBUS  […]

MAECENAS                Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you. Only th’adulterous Antony, most large In his abominations, turns you off, And gives his potent regiment to a trull That noises it against us. OCTAVIA                    Is it so, sir? CAESAR          Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you Be ever known to patience. My […]

CAESAR                      Welcome to Rome; Nothing more dear to me. You are abused Beyond the mark of thought, and the high God To do you justice, makes his ministers Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort, And ever welcome to us. AGRIPPA                    Welcome, lady.          (3.6.85-90)   Caesar changes direction a little here; having […]