ANTONY I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone. I have myself resolved upon a course Which has no need of you. Be gone. My treasure’s in the harbour. Take it. O, I followed that I blush to look upon. My very hairs do mutiny, for […]
Continue ReadingAntony: I’m so ashamed, it’s over, leave me (3.11.1-6) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Antony with Attendants ANTONY Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon’t, It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither. I am so lated in the world that I Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship Laden with gold. Take that, divide it, fly, And make your peace with […]
Continue ReadingCanidius: Antony’s finished; Enobarbus: I’ll stick with him still (3.10.24-36) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Canidius CANIDIUS Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, And sinks most lamentably. Had our general Been what he knew himself, it had gone well. O, he has given example for our flight Most grossly by his own. ENOBARBUS Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then, good night indeed! CANIDIUS Toward Peloponnesus are […]
Continue ReadingAntony is a stupid duck! (3.10.17-23) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
SCARUS She once being luffed, The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard, Leaving the fight in height, flies after her. I never saw an action of such shame. Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before Did violate so itself. ENOBARBUS Alack, alack! (3.10.17-23) Luffed or loofed […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra is a cowardly cow! (3.10.8-17) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
ENOBARBUS How appears the fight? SCARUS On our side like the tokened pestilence, Where death is sure. Yonder ribald nag of Egypt— Whom leprosy o’ertake!—i’th’ midst o’th’ fight— When vantage like a pair of twins appeared, Both as the same, or rather ours the elder— The breese upon her, like a cow in June, Hoists […]
Continue ReadingDisaster! stupidity! the battle of Actium is a total fiasco (3.10.1-8) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Canidius marcheth with his land army one way over the stage, and Taurus, the lieutenant of Caesar[, with his army] the other way. After their going in is heard the noise of a sea-fight. Alarum. Enter Enobarbus ENOBARBUS Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer. Th’Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, With all their sixty, […]
Continue ReadingThe Battle of Actium is about to begin… (3.9.1-4) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Antony and Enobarbus ANTONY Set we our squadrons on yon side o’th’ hill In eye of Caesar’s battle, from which place We may the number of the ships behold, And so proceed accordingly. [Exeunt] (3.9.1-4) That it’s a new scene in modern editions is meaningless; it’s continuous in the folio text and the […]
Continue ReadingCaesar: Rome expects that every man… (3.8.1-5) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Caesar with his army, marching CAESAR Taurus! TAURUS My lord? CAESAR Strike not by land. Keep whole. Provoke not battle Till we have done at sea. [He gives him a scroll] Do not exceed The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies Upon this jump. Exeunt (3.8.1-5) The contrast with the previous scene […]
Continue ReadingUpdate 3: we are women’s men, and on the back foot too (3.7.67-81) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
SOLDIER By Hercules, I think I am i’th’ right. CANIDIUS Soldier, thou art; but his whole action grows Not in the power on’t. So our leader’s led, And we are women’s men. SOLDIER You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not? CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Caelius are […]
Continue ReadingUpdate 2: fighting by sea, it’s really not the Roman way (3.7.60-66) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
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; […]
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