directory
home contact

Antony and Cleopatra

Please see the bottom of this page for explanatory notes and resources.
ACT III SCENE XIII Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace. 
[Enter CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS]
CLEOPATRAWhat shall we do, Enobarbus?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUSThink, and die.
CLEOPATRAIs Antony or we in fault for this?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUSAntony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled5
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world opposed, he being10
The meered question: 'twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.
CLEOPATRAPrithee, peace.
[Enter MARK ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador]
MARK ANTONYIs that his answer?15
EUPHRONIUSAy, my lord.
MARK ANTONYThe queen shall then have courtesy, so she
Will yield us up.
EUPHRONIUSHe says so.
MARK ANTONYLet her know't.20
To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.
CLEOPATRAThat head, my lord?
MARK ANTONYTo him again: tell him he wears the rose25
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 Caesar: I dare him therefore30
To lay his gay comparisons apart,
And answer me declined, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.
[Exeunt MARK ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS[Aside] Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show,35
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 Caesar will40
Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgment too.
[Enter an Attendant]
AttendantA messenger from CAESAR.
CLEOPATRAWhat, no more ceremony? See, my women!
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose45
That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir.
[Exit Attendant]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS[Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to square.
The loyalty well held to fools does make
Our faith mere folly: yet he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord50
Does conquer him that did his master conquer
And earns a place i' the story.
[Enter THYREUS]
CLEOPATRACaesar's will?
THYREUSHear it apart.
CLEOPATRANone but friends: say boldly.55
THYREUSSo, haply, are they friends to Antony.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUSHe needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know,
Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar's.60
THYREUSSo.
Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats,



Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,
Further than he is Caesar.
CLEOPATRAGo on: right royal.65
THYREUSHe knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you fear'd him.
CLEOPATRAO!
THYREUSThe scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity, as constrained blemishes,70
Not as deserved.
CLEOPATRAHe is a god, and knows
What is most right: mine honour was not yielded,
But conquer'd merely.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS[Aside] To be sure of that, 75
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee.
[Exit]
THYREUSShall I say to Caesar
What you require of him? for he partly begs80
To be desired 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,85
The universal landlord.
CLEOPATRAWhat's your name?
THYREUSMy name is Thyreus.
CLEOPATRAMost kind messenger,
Say to great Caesar this: in deputation90
I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt
To lay my crown at 's feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.
THYREUS'Tis your noblest course.95
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.
CLEOPATRAYour Caesar's father oft,100
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
As it rain'd kisses.
[Re-enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]
MARK ANTONYFavours, by Jove that thunders!
What art thou, fellow?105
THYREUSOne that but performs
The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS[Aside] You will be whipp'd.
MARK ANTONYApproach, there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods110
and devils!
Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried 'Ho!'
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,
And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am
Antony yet.115
[Enter Attendants]
Take hence this Jack, and whip him.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS[Aside] 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp
Than with an old one dying.
MARK ANTONYMoon and stars!
Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries120
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
So saucy with the hand of she here,--what's her name,
Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,
Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,
And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.125
THYREUSMark Antony!
MARK ANTONYTug him away: being whipp'd,
Bring him again: this Jack of Caesar's shall
Bear us an errand to him.
[Exeunt Attendants with THYREUS]
You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha!130
Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders?
CLEOPATRAGood my lord,--135
MARK ANTONYYou have been a boggler ever:
But when we in our viciousness grow hard--
O misery on't!--the wise gods seel our eyes;
In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us
Adore our errors; laugh at's, while we strut140
To our confusion.
CLEOPATRAO, is't come to this?
MARK ANTONYI found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment
Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,145
Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously pick'd out: for, I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
CLEOPATRAWherefore is this?150
MARK ANTONYTo let a fellow that will take rewards
And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal
And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar155
The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
And to proclaim it civilly, were like
A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.
[Re-enter Attendants with THYREUS]
Is he whipp'd?160
First AttendantSoundly, my lord.
MARK ANTONYCried he? and begg'd a' pardon?
First AttendantHe did ask favour.
MARK ANTONYIf that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry165
To follow Caesar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: henceforth
The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on 't. Get thee back to Caesar,
Tell him thy entertainment: look, thou say170
He makes me angry with him; for he seems
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was: he makes me angry;
And at this time most easy 'tis to do't,
When my good stars, that were my former guides,175
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires
Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech and what is done, tell him he has
Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,180
As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:
Hence with thy stripes, begone!
[Exit THYREUS]
CLEOPATRAHave you done yet?
MARK ANTONYAlack, our terrene moon
Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone185
The fall of Antony!
CLEOPATRAI must stay his time.
MARK ANTONYTo flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
With one that ties his points?
CLEOPATRANot know me yet?190
MARK ANTONYCold-hearted toward me?
CLEOPATRAAh, 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 neck: as it determines, so195
Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!
Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying of this pelleted storm,
Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile200
Have buried them for prey!
MARK ANTONYI am satisfied.
Caesar sits down in Alexandria; where
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too205
Have knit again, and fleet, threatening 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 blood;
I and my sword will earn our chronicle:210
There's hope in't yet.
CLEOPATRAThat's my brave lord!
MARK ANTONYI will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breathed,
And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives215
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 gaudy night: call to me
All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;
Let's mock the midnight bell.220
CLEOPATRAIt is my birth-day:
I had thought to have held it poor: but, since my lord
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.
MARK ANTONYWe will yet do well.
CLEOPATRACall all his noble captains to my lord.225
MARK ANTONYDo so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force
The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen;
There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight,
I'll make death love me; for I will contend
Even with his pestilent scythe.230
[Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUSNow he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious,
Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,
A diminution in our captain's brain
Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,235
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him.
[Exit]


Antony and Cleopatra, Act 4, Scene 1
___________

Explanatory Notes for Act 3, Scene 13
From Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. M. Eaton. Boston: Educational Publishing Company.
(Line numbers have been altered.)
__________

2. Think, and die. Take thought, despair and die.

6. Ranges. Ranks.

9. Nick'd. Disfigure, mark with folly.

11. Meered. The whole question, the only cause of dispute. The etymology of this word is somewhat doubtful.

12. Course. Follow as a hunter courses after game.

13. Gazing. That is, gazing after him in consternation.

23. Principalities. Kingdoms.

31. Comparisons. Some editors think this means his advantages as compared with mine; others take it as a misprint for "caparisons."

32. Declined. Fallen in estate.

34. High-battled. The commander of proud and victorious armies.

35. Unstate. Divest himself of his advantages.

35. Staged. Exhibit himself on a stage.

36. Sworder. A gladiator, a slave who fought in the arena at public shows.

37. Parcel. Of a piece with, correspond with.

39. Suffer. To suffer the same ruin.

40. Measures. So well able to guage men's measures or capacities.

45. Blown. Full blown.

47. Square. Quarrel.

48. Loyalty. Loyalty to a fool becomes mere folly.

52. I' the story. Wins renown when the story is told.

56. Haply. Perhaps.

59. Leap. Is eager to be friends.

60. He is. We acknowledge Antony's master, that is, Caesar.

60. Right royal. Gracious sir.

70. Constrained. Faults forced upon you.

76. Leaky. So like a leaky ship.

85. Shrowd. Protection. The word originally meam any kind of garment or covering.

90. Deputation. By deputy or proxy.

93. All-obeying. Whose commands are obeyed by all men.

98. Grace. Allow men the favor of kissing your hand.

100. Caesar's father. The great general, Julius Caesar, who had adopted Octavius, his grandnephew.

101. Kingdoms in. Conquering kingdoms.

103. As. As if.

107. Fullest. Most complete or perfect, fullest of good qualities.

113. Muss. A scramble after some object that had been thrown down.

116. Jack. Impudent fellow.

122. She here. Used contemptuously. Of this woman here who was once Cleopatra.

124. Cringe. Distort his face in pain or fear.

134. Feeders. Parasites, those who live on the bounty of others. Some think it means merely servants.

136. Boggler. Bungler, blunderer.

138. Seel. Blind.

144. Trencher. A large plate.

145. Cneius Pompey. The present Pompey's father, a great Roman general.

147. Luxuriously. Wantonly.

148. Temperance. Here, chastity.

152. Quit. Requite. A common phrase of beggars.

155. Basan. We find in the Psalms, "As the hill of Basan, so is God's hill; even an high hill, as the hill of Basan." And again, "Many oxen have come about me: fat bulls of Basan close me in on every side."

159. Yare. Prompt and skillful.

162. A'. Our.

168. Fever. Give you a fever.

176. Orbs. Spheres.

177. Abysm. Abyss.

177. Mislike. Dislike, is angry at.

179. Enfranched. Enfranchised; a slave who has been set free.

181. Quit. Requhe, get even with me.

183. Stripes. Lashings.

184. Terrene. Earthly moon; that is, Cleopatra.

185. Portends. Foretells, indicates.

189. Ties his points. One who does the duty of a servant; literally, fastens the tagged lacings of his garments, or his points, as they were called.

195. Determines. As the stone dissolves.

196. Caesarion. Her son by Julius Caesar.

199. Discandying. Melting.

199. Pelleted. Storm of pellets or hail stones.

206. Fleet, Float, in sea trim.

210. Chronicle, Will perform acts that deserve to be chronicled.

213. Breathed. Endowed with treble breath.

214. Maliciously. Without mercy.

215. Nice. Dainty, luxurious.

218. Gaudy. Joyous, festive.

228. Sap. Life.

233. Estridge. Ostrich.

___________
How to cite the explanatory notes:

Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. M. Eaton. Boston: Educational Publishing Company, 1908. Shakespeare Online. 20 Feb. 2010. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/antony_3_13.html >.

___________

Related Articles

 Plutarch's Influence on Shakespeare and Other Writers of the Sixteenth Century
 An Analysis of Shakespeare's Indebtedness to North's Plutarch
 The Character of Mark Antony
 An Analysis of Octavius
 An Analysis of Octavia

 An Introduction to Shakespeare's Cleopatra
 Shakespeare's Interest in the Subject of Antony and Cleopatra
 Sources for Antony and Cleopatra
 Famous Quotations from Antony and Cleopatra

 Antony and Cleopatra: Plot Summary
 Pronouncing Shakespearean Names
 Shakespeare's Language
 Shakespeare's Metaphors and Similes

 Shakespeare's Reputation in Elizabethan England
 Shakespeare's Impact on Other Writers
 Why Study Shakespeare?