If he mislike
        My speech and what is done, tell him he has
        Hipparchus, my enfranchèd bondman176, whom
        He may at pleasure whip or hang or torture,
        As he shall like to quit178 me. Urge it thou.
        Hence with thy stripes! Be gone!


Exit Thidias [with Servant]

CLEOPATRA    Have you done yet?

ANTONY    Alack, our terrene moon181 is now eclipsed
        And it portends alone182 the fall of Antony.

CLEOPATRA    I must stay his time183.

ANTONY    To flatter Caesar would you mingle eyes184
        With one that ties his points185?

CLEOPATRA    Not know me yet?

ANTONY    Cold-hearted toward me?

CLEOPATRA    Ah, dear, if I be so,
        From my cold heart let heaven engender hail
        And poison it in the source, and the first stone
        Drop in my neck191: as it determines, so
        Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion192 smite,
        Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
        Together with my brave Egyptians all,
        By the discandying195 of this pelleted storm
        Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
        Have buried them for prey197!

ANTONY    I am satisfied.
        Caesar sets down199 in Alexandria, where
        I will oppose his fate200. Our force by land
        Hath nobly held, our severed navy too
        Have knit again, and fleet202, threat’ning most sea-like.
        Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, lady?
        If from the field I shall return once more
        To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood205:
        I and my sword will earn our chronicle206:
        There’s hope in’t yet.

CLEOPATRA    That’s my brave lord!

ANTONY    I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed209,
        And fight maliciously210. For when mine hours
        Were nice211 and lucky, men did ransom lives
        Of me for jests. But now I’ll set my teeth
        And send to darkness all that stop me. Come,
        Let’s have one other gaudy214 night: call to me
        All my sad215 captains: fill our bowls once more:
        Let’s mock the midnight bell216.

CLEOPATRA    It is my birthday:
        I had thought t’have held it poor218, but since my lord
        Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

ANTONY    We will yet do well.

CLEOPATRA    Call all his noble captains to my
To Charmian and Iras
        lord!

ANTONY    Do so, we’ll speak to them, and tonight I’ll force
        The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen,
        There’s sap in’t yet224. The next time I do fight
        I’ll make death love me, for I will contend
        Even with his pestilent scythe225.

Exeunt [all but Enobarbus]

ENOBARBUS    Now he’ll outstare227 the lightning. To be furious
        Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood
        The dove will peck the estridge229; and I see still,
        A diminution in our captain’s brain
        Restores his heart231. When valour preys on reason,
        It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
        Some way to leave him.
Exit

[Act 4 Scene 1]                               
running scene 19

Location: Caesar’s camp outside Alexandria   

Enter Caesar, Agrippa and Maecenas with his Army, Caesar reading a letter

CAESAR    He calls me boy, and chides as1 he had power
        To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
        He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat,
        Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian4 know
        I have many other ways to die: meantime
        Laugh at his challenge.

MAECENAS    Caesar must think,
        When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted
        Even to falling. Give him no breath9, but now
        Make boot10 of his distraction: never anger
        Made good guard for itself.

CAESAR    Let our best heads12
        Know that tomorrow the last of many battles
        We mean to fight. Within our files14 there are,
        Of those that served Mark Antony but late15,
        Enough to fetch him in16. See it done,
        And feast the army. We have store17 to do’t
        And they have earned the waste18. Poor Antony!


Exeunt

[Act 4 Scene 2]                               
running scene 20

Location: Alexandria   

Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas with others

ANTONY    He will not fight with me, Domitius1?

ENOBARBUS    No.

ANTONY    Why should he not?

ENOBARBUS    He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune4,
        He is twenty men to one.

ANTONY    Tomorrow, soldier,
        By sea and land I’ll fight: or7 I will live,
        Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
        Shall make it live again8. Woo’t9 thou fight well?

ENOBARBUS    I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’10

ANTONY    Well said. 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 honest14.—So hast thou.—
        Thou, and thou, and thou: you have served me well,
        And kings have been your fellows16.

CLEOPATRA    What means this?
Aside to Enobarbus

ENOBARBUS    ’Tis one of those odd tricks18 which
Aside to Cleopatra
        sorrow shoots
        Out of the mind.

ANTONY    And thou art honest too:
        I wish I could be made so many men,
        And all of you clapped up22 together in
        An Antony, that I might do you service
        So good as you have done.

ALL    The gods forbid!

ANTONY    Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight:
        Scant not my cups27, and make as much of me
        As when mine empire was your fellow too
        And suffered29 my command.

CLEOPATRA    What does he mean?
Aside to Enobarbus

ENOBARBUS    To make his followers weep.
Aside to Cleopatra

ANTONY    Tend me tonight:
        Maybe it is the period33 of your duty.
        Haply34 you shall not see me more, or if,
        A mangled shadow. Perchance35 tomorrow
        You’ll serve another master. I look on you
        As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
        I turn you not away, but, like a master
        Married to your good service, stay till death.
        Tend me tonight two hours, I ask no more,
        And the gods yield41 you for’t.

ENOBARBUS    What mean you, sir,
        To give them this discomfort43? Look, they weep,
        And I, an ass, am onion-eyed44. For shame,
        Transform us not to women.

ANTONY    Ho, ho, ho!
        Now the witch take me47 if I meant it thus!
        Grace48 grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,
        You take me in too dolorous49 a sense,
        For I spake to you for your comfort50, did desire you
        To burn this night with torches51: know, my hearts,
        I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you
        Where rather I’ll expect victorious life
        Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,
        And drown consideration55.


Exeunt

[Act 4 Scene 3]                               
running scene 21

Enter a Company of Soldiers

FIRST SOLDIER    Brother, goodnight: tomorrow is the day1.

SECOND SOLDIER    It will determine one way2. Fare you well.
        Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLDIER    Nothing. What news?

SECOND SOLDIER    Belike5 ’tis but a rumour. Goodnight to you.

FIRST SOLDIER    Well, sir, goodnight.

They meet other Soldiers

SECOND SOLDIER    Soldiers, have careful7 watch.

THIRD SOLDIER    And you.