3 Sold. And you: Good night, good night. [The first two place themselves at their posts. 4 Sold. Here we: [they take their posts.] and if to morrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up. 2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, 3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear? 1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how't will give off. Sold. [several speaking.] Content: 'Tis strange. [Exeunt. It signs well, &c.] i. e. it is a good sign, it bodes well. SCENE IV. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA ; CHARMIAN, and Others, attending. Ant. Eros mine armour, Eros ! Cleo. Sleep a little. Ant. No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros! Enter EROS, with Armour. Come, my + good fellow, put thine iron on : — If fortune be not ours to-day, it is Because we brave her. .Come. Cleo. Nay, I'll help too. What's this for? Ant. Ah, let be, let be! thou art The armourer of my heart: :- False, false; this, this. Eros. Cleo. Is not this buckled well? Ant. Briefly, sir.1 Rarely, rarely: He that unbuckles this, till we do please To doff't' for our repose, shall hear a storm. + Mr. Malone omits my. + Briefly, sir,] That is, quickly, sir. To doff't-] To doff is to do off, to put off. 6 More tight at this, than thou :] Tight is handy, adroit. Enter an Officer, armed. A workman in't. 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 it with delight. A thousand, sir, Early though it be, have on their riveted trim, 1 Off. This morning, like the spirit of a youth That means to be of note, begins betimes. -- [Kisses her. And worthy shameful check it were, to stand Lead me. [Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, Officers, and Soldiers. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might Determine this great war in single fight! He SCENE V. Antony's Camp near Alexandria. Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier meeting them. Sold. The gods make this a happy day to Antony! Ant. 'Would, thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd To make me fight at land! Had'st thou done so, Sold. Ant. Sold. Who's gone this morning? One ever near thee: Call for Enobarbus, Say, I am none of thine. Who? Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; +"Despatch :- Enobarbus!" MALONE. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Cæsar's Camp before Alexandria. Flourish. Enter CESAR, with AGRIPPA, ENOBARBUS, and Others. Cæs. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight: Our will is, Antony be took alive; 7 Make it so known. Cæsar, I shall. [Exit AGRIPPA. Agr. Cæs. The time of universal peace is near: Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world Shall bear the olive freely. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Antony Is come into the field. Cæs. Go, charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van, [Exeunt CESAR and his Train. Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry, No honourable trust. I have done ill; 7 Our will is, Antony be took alive;] It is observable with what judgment Shakspeare draws the character of Octavius. Antony was his hero; so the other was not to shine: yet being an historical character, there was a necessity to draw him like. But the ancient historians, his flatterers, had delivered him down so fair, that he seems ready cut and dried for a hero. Amidst these difficulties Shakspeare has extricated himself with great address. He has admitted all those great strokes of his character as he found them, and yet has made him a very unamiable character, deceitful, meanWARBURTON. spirited, narrow-minded, proud, and revengeful. |