The Complete Works of William ShakespeareShakespeare, William
General
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Shakespeare, William
English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
CLEOPATRA.
Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.
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 daff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.
Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squire
More tight at this than thou. Dispatch. O love,
That thou couldst see my wars today, and knew’st
The royal occupation, thou shouldst see
A workman in’t.
Enter an Officer, armed.
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.
OFFICER.
A thousand, sir,
Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim
And at the port expect you.
[_Shout. Trumpets flourish._]
Enter other Captains and Soldiers.
CAPTAIN.
The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.
ALL.
Good morrow, general.
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. [_Kisses her._] Rebukeable
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment. I’ll leave thee
Now like a man of steel.—You that will fight,
Follow me close, I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu.
[_Exeunt Antony, Eros, Captains and Soldiers._]
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._]
SCENE V. Antony’s camp near Alexandria.
Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, a Soldier meeting them.
SOLDIER.
The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
ANTONY.
Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed
To make me fight at land!
SOLDIER.
Hadst thou done so,
The kings that have revolted and the soldier
That has this morning left thee would have still
Followed thy heels.
ANTONY.
Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER.
Who?
One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp
Say “I am none of thine.”
ANTONY.
What sayest thou?
SOLDIER.
Sir,
He is with Caesar.
EROS.
Sir, his chests and treasure
He has not with him.
ANTONY.
Is he gone?
SOLDIER.
Most certain.
ANTONY.
Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.
Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—
I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.
Say that I wish he never find more cause
To change a master. O, my fortunes have
Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!
[_Exeunt._]
SCENE VI. Alexandria. Caesar’s camp.
Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar with Enobarbus and Dolabella.
CAESAR.
Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.
Our will is Antony be took alive;
Make it so known.
AGRIPPA.
Caesar, I shall.
[_Exit._]
CAESAR.
The time of universal peace is near.
Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world
Shall bear the olive freely.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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