CHARMIAN    Please you retire to your chamber? CLEOPATRA              Lead me. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony—but now! Well, on. Exeunt (4.4.35-8)   Suddenly the stage is very empty and very quiet. Just Charmian and Cleopatra (although a production might supply other silent attendants). […]

ANTONY                     ’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. [He kisses Cleopatra] Rebukable And worthy shameful check it were to […]

Enter an armed Soldier ANTONY         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’t with delight. SOLDIER                     A thousand, sir, Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, And at the port expect you. Shout [within]. Trumpets flourish. Enter […]

ANTONY                                 Well, well, We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow? Go put on thy defences. EROS                                       Briefly, sir. CLEOPATRA  Is not this buckled well? ANTONY                                 Rarely, rarely. He that unbuckles this, till we do please To doff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm. Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squire More […]

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with others [including Charmian] ANTONY         [calling] Eros, mine armour, Eros! CLEOPATRA  Sleep a little. ANTONY         No, my chuck. Eros, come, mine armour, Eros! Enter Eros [carrying Antony’s armour] ANTONY         Come, good fellow, put thine iron on. If fortune be not ours today, it is Because we brave her. Come. CLEOPATRA              Nay, I’ll […]

Music of the hautboys is under the stage SECOND SOLDIER     Peace, what noise? FIRST SOLDIER          List, list! SECOND SOLDIER Hark! FIRST SOLDIER Music i’th’ air. THIRD SOLDIER        Under the earth. FOURTH SOLDIER     It signs well, does it not? THIRD SOLDIER No. FIRST SOLDIER Peace, I say! What should this mean? SECOND SOLDIER ’Tis the god […]

Enter a company of Soldiers FIRST SOLDIER         Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day. SECOND SOLDIER     It will determine one way. Fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? FIRST SOLDIER Nothing. What news? SECOND SOLDIER Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you. FIRST SOLDIER Well, sir, good night. They […]

ENOBARBUS              What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep, And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame, Transform us not to women. ANTONY                                 Ho, ho, ho, 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 […]

ANTONY         Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight. Scant not my cups, and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffered my command. CLEOPATRA  [aside to Enobarbus] What does he mean? ENOBARBUS  [aside to Cleopatra] To make his followers weep. ANTONY                                 Tend me tonight. Maybe it is the period […]

ANTONY                                 Come on! Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonight Enter three or four Servitors Be bounteous at our meal. Give me thy hand. Thou hast been rightly honest; so hast thou, Thou, and thou, and thou; you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows. CLEOPATRA  [to Enobarbus] What means this? ENOBARBUS  [to […]