The triumvirate had been dissolved, and Octavius and Antony, at the head of vast armies and fleets, were preparing, on opposite sides of the Gulf of Ambracia, to submit their old quarrel to the arbitrament of the sword. In this emergency Antony’s old officers and soldiers, whom he had so often led to victory, naturally hoped that, assuming the offensive, he would draw out his legions, and, by his ability and superior strategy, force his adversary from the field. But, bewitched by a woman, the greatest captain of the age--now that Cæsar and Pompey were gone--had consented to abandon a faithful and devoted army, and to rely solely upon his fleet; which, equal to that of Octavius in numbers, was far inferior in discipline and drill, and in experience of actual combat. [Illustration: ROMAN GALLEY.] IV. ACTIUM. B. C. 31. SCENE VII. _Near Actium. Antony’s Camp._ _Enter_ Antony and Canidius. _Ant._ Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian Sea, And taken in Toryne? you have heard on’t, sweet? _Cleo._ Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent. _Ant._ A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. _Cleo._ By sea! What else? _Canid._ Why will my lord do so? _Ant._ For that he dares us to ’t. _Enob._ So hath my lord dared him to single fight. _Canid._ Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: but these offers Which serve not for his vantage he shakes off; And so should you. _Enob._ Your ships are not well mann’d; Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Ingrossed by swift impress; in Cæsar’s fleet Are those that often have ’gainst Pompey fought; Their ships are yare; yours, heavy; no disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land. _Ant._ By sea, by sea. _Enob._ Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark’d footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security. _Ant._ I’ll fight at sea. _Cleo._ I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. _Ant._ Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full mann’d, from the head of Actium, Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, We then can do ’t at land. SHAKESPEARE--_Antony and Cleopatra._