Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

Eup. Fortune pursue thee!

Cæs.

Bring him through the bands.

[Exit EUPHRONius.

To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Despatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

[ocr errors]

[To THYREUS. And in our name, what she requires; add more, From thine invention, offers: women are not, In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjüre The ne'er-touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, Thyreus ; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law.

Thyr.

Cæsar, I go.

Cas. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw;' And what thou think'st his very action speaks. In every power that moves.

Thyr.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exeunt.

SCENE XI.

Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and

IRAS.

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno.

Think, and die.. Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?, Eno. Antony only, that would make his will Lord of his reason. What although you fled From that great face of war, whose several ranges Frighted each other? why should he follow? The itch of his affection should not then

1

how Antony becomes his flaw;] That is, how Antony Cón

forms himself to this breach of his fortune, PD ST

[ocr errors]

Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The mered question: "Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo.

Pr'ythee, peace.

Enter ANTONY, with EUPHRONius.

Ant. Is this his answer?

[blocks in formation]

To the boy Cæsar send this grizled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim

With principalities.

Cleo.

That head, my lord?

[ocr errors]

Ant. To him again; Tell him, he wears the rose Of youth upon him; from which, the world should

note

Something particular:, his coin, ships, legions, May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail Under the service of a child, as soon

As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart,

And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone: I'll write it; follow me.

[Exeunt ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS.

2 Have nick'd his captainship ;] i. e. set the mark of folly on it. S he being

The mered question:] Mered is, I suspect, a word of our author's forraation, from mere: he being the sole, the entire subject or occasion of the war. MALONE.

4 his gay comparisons apart,

And answer me declin'd,] I require of Cæsar not to depend on

Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show,"
Against a sworder.-I see, men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them,

To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness!-Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too.

Att.

Enter an Attendant.

A messenger from Cæsar.

Cleo. What, no more ceremony?-See, my

women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose,
That kneel'd unto the buds.-Admit him, sir.
Eno. Mine honesty, and I, begin to square.?

[Aside.

The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly:-Yet, he, that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,

Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i' the story.

Enter THYREus.

Cleo.

Cæsar's will?

Thyr. Hear it apart.

Cleo. None but friends; say boldly.

that superiority which the comparison of our different fortunes may exhibit to him, but to answer me man to man, in this decline of my age or power. JOHNSON.

5 be stag'd to the show,] that is, exhibited, like conflicting gladiators, to the publick gaze.

are

A parcel of their fortunes;] i. e. as we should say at present, are of a piece with them.

7

to square.] i. e. to quarrel.

Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony. Eno. He needs as many, sir, as Cæsar has; Or needs not us. If Cæsar please, our master Will-leap to be his friend: For us, you know, Whose he is, we are; and that's, Caesar's.

Thyr. So.Thus then, thou most renown'd;' Cæsar entreats, Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,

Further than he is Cæsar.

Cleo.

Go on: Right royal.

Thyr. He knows, that you embrace not Antony As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

Cleo.

O!

Thyr. The scars upon your honour, therefore, he Does pity, as constrained blemishes,

Not as deserv'd.

Cleo.

He is a god, and knows

What is most right: Mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd merely.

Eno.

To be sure of that, [Aside.

[Exit ENOBARBUS,

Shall I say to Cæsar

I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou'rt so leaky,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee.

Thyr.
What you require of him? for he partly begs
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,
To hear from me you had left Antony,

And put yourself under his shrowd,
The universal landlord.

Cleo.

What's your

name?

Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Clco.

Most kind messenger,

Say to great Caesar this, In disputation

I kiss his conqu'ring hand: tell him, I am prompt To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel!

7

Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.

Thyr.
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it.
shake it.
My duty on your hand.

Cleo.

'Tis your noblest course.

Give me grace to lay

Your Cæsar's father

Oft, when he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in, Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,

As it rain'd kisses.

[blocks in formation]

The bidding of the fullest man,' and worthiest
To have command obey'd.

Eno.

You will be whipp'd,

Ant. Approach, there:-Ay, you kite!-Now gods and devils!

2

Authority melts from me; Of late, when I cry'd, ho! Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am

Enter Attendants.

Antony yet. Take hence this Jack, and whip him. Eno. "Tis better playing with a lion's whelp, -Than with an old one dying.

Ant.

Moon and stars! Whiphim:-Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries

Tell him, from his all-obeying breath, &c.] All-obeying breath is, in Shakspeare's language, breath which all obey. Obeying for· sbeyed. So, inexpressive for inexpressible, delighted for delighting, &c. Give me grace-] Grant me the favour.

1

the fullest man,] The most complete, and perfect.

2 Like boys unto a muss,] i, e. a scramble.

« ElőzőTovább »