CÆSAR

Be 't so declare thine office.

EUPHRONIUS

Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and

Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
He lessens his requests; and to thee sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: this for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.

CÆSAR

For Antony,

I have no ears to his request. The Queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: this if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

To try thy eloquence, now 't is time: dispatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

And in our name, what she requires; add more,
From thine invention, offers: women are not

In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure

ACT III, SCENE XII

The ne'er-touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we

Will answer as a law.

THYREUS

Cæsar, I go.

CÆSAR

Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,

And what thou think'st his very action speaks

Antony only, that would make his will

Lord of his reason. What though you fled

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 oppos'd, he being
The mered question: 't was a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

To the boy Cæsar send this grizzled head,

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim

With principalities.

CLEOPATRA

That head, my lord?

ANTONY

To him again tell him he wears the rose

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' th' command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore

To lay his gay comparisons apart,

And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.

Exeunt Antony and Euphronius.

ENOBARBUS, aside.

Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to th' show,
Against a sworder! I see men's judgements 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 Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness! Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgement too.

Enter an ATTENDANT.

ATTENDANT

A messenger from Cæsar.

CLEOPATRA

What, no more ceremony? See, my women!
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir.

Exit Attendant.

ENOBARBUS, aside.

Mine honesty and I begin to square.

Antony and Cleopatra.

15

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 oppos'd, he being
The mered question : 't was a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

To the boy Cæsar send this grizzled head,

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim.

With principalities.

CLEOPATRA

That head, my lord?

ANTONY

To him again tell him he wears the rose