Antony and Cleopatra :: :: University of Virginia Library

Eno.
But why, why, why?

Cle.
Thou hast fore-spoke my being in these wars;
And say'st, it is not fit.

Eno.
—Well, is it, is it?

Cle.
Is't not denounc'd 'gainst us? Why should not we
Be there in person?

Eno.
—Well, I could reply:—
If we should serve with horse and mares together,
The horse were meerly lost; the mares would bear
A soldier, and his horse.

Cle.
—What is't you say?

Eno.
Your presence needs must puzle Antony;
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time,
What should not then be spar'd. He is already
Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome,
That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids,
Manage this war.

Cle.
—Sink Rome; and their tongues rot,
That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the war,
And, as the president of my kingdom, will
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
I will not stay behind.

Eno.
—Nay, I have done.
Here comes the Emperor.

Enter Antony, and Canidius.
Ant.
—Is't not strange, Canidius,
That from Tarentum, and Brundusium,
He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
And take in Toryne?—You have heard on't, sweet?

Cle.
Celerity is never more admir'd,
Than by the negligent.

Ant.
—A good rebuke,

Which might have well becom'd the best of men,
To taunt at slackness.—My Canidius, we
Will fight with him by sea.

Cle.
—By sea! What else?

Can.
Why will my lord do so?

Ant.
—For that he dares us to't.

Eno.
So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight.

Can.
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.

Eno.
—Your ships are not well man'd:
Your mariners are muliteers, reapers, people
Ingrost by swift impress; in Cæsar's fleet
Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:
Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: No disgrace
Can fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepar'd for land.

Ant.
—By sea, by sea.

Eno.
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 meerly to chance and hazard,
From firm security.

Ant.
—I'll fight at sea.

Cle.
I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better.

Ant.
—Come:
Our over-plus of shipping will we burn;
And, with the rest full-man'd, from the head of Actium

Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail,
Enter an Attendant.
We then can do't at land.—Thy business?

Att.
The news is true, my lord; he is descry'd;
Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant.
Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
Strange, that his power should be.—Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse:—we'll to our ship;
Enter Diomede.
Away, my Thetis.—How now, worthy soldier?

Dio.
O noble Emperor, do not fight by sea;
Trust not to rotten planks: Do you misdoubt
This sword, and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians,
And the Phænicians, go a ducking; we
Have us'd to conquer, standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.

Ant.
—Well, well, away.

[Exeunt Ant. Cle. Eno. and Attendant.
Dio.
By Hercules, I think I am i'the right.

Can.
Soldier, thou art: but this whole action grows
Not in the power on't: So our leader's led,
And we are women's men.

Dio.
—You keep by land
The legions and the horse whole, do you not?

Can.
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
Publicola, and Cælius, are for sea:
But we keep whole by land. This speed of Cæsar's
Carries beyond belief.

Dio.
—While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions, as
Beguil'd all spies.

Can.
—Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

Dio.
They say, one Taurus.

Can.
—Well I know the man.

Re-enter Attendant.
Att.
The Emperor calls Canidius.

Can.
With news the time's in labour, and throws forth,
Each minute, some.

[Exeunt.