ANTONY

Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight.

Scant not my cups, and make as much of me

As when mine empire was your fellow too,

And suffered my command.

CLEOPATRA (aside to Enobarbus) What does he mean?

ENOBARBUS (aside to Cleopatra)

To make his followers weep.

ANTONY

Tend me tonight.

Maybe it is the period of your duty.

Haply you shall not see me more; or if,

A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrow

You’ll serve another master. I look on you

As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,

I turn you not away, but, like a master

Married to your good service, stay till death.

Tend me tonight two hours. I ask no more;

And the gods yield you for’t!

ENOBARBUS

What mean you, sir,

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,

And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame,

Transform us not to women.

ANTONY

Ho, ho, ho,

Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall. My hearty friends,

You take me in too dolorous a sense;

For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you

To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,

I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you

Where rather I’ll expect victorious life

Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,

And drown consideration.

Exeunt

4.3 Enter a company of Soldiers

FIRST SOLDIER

Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.

SECOND SOLDIER

It will determine one way. Fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLDIER Nothing. What news?

SECOND SOLDIER

Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

FIRST SOLDIER

Well, sir, good night.

Enter other Soldiers, meeting them

SECOND SOLDIER

Soldiers, have careful watch.

THIRD SOLDIER

And you. Good night, good night.

They place themselves in every corner of the stage

SECOND SOLDIER

Here we; an if tomorrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

FIRST SOLDIER

’Tis a brave army,

And full of purpose.

Music of the hautboys is under the stage

SECOND SOLDIER

Peace, what noise?

FIRST SOLDIER

List, list!

SECOND SOLDIER

Hark!

FIRST SOLDIER Music i’th’ air.

THIRD SOLDIER

Under the earth.

FOURTH SOLDIER

It signs well, does it not?

THIRD SOLDIER

No.

FIRST SOLDIER Peace, I say!

What should this mean?

SECOND SOLDIER

’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,

Now leaves him.

FIRST SOLDIER Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen

Do hear what we do.

SECOND SOLDIER How now, masters?

ALL (speaking together)

How now?

How now? Do you hear this?

FIRST SOLDIER

Ay. Is’t not strange?

THIRD SOLDIER

Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?

FIRST SOLDIER

Follow the noise so far as we have quarter.

Let’s see how it will give off.

ALL Content.

’Tis strange.

Exeunt

4.4 Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with Charmian and others

ANTONY (calling)

Eros, mine armour, Eros!

CLEOPATRA

Sleep a little.

ANTONY

No, my chuck. Eros, come, mine armour, Eros!

Enter Eros with armour

Come, good fellow, put thine iron on.

If fortune be not ours today, it is

Because we brave her. Come.

CLEOPATRA

Nay, I’ll help, too.

What’s this for?

ANTONY

Ah, let be, let be! Thou art

The armourer of my heart. False, false! This, this!

CLEOPATRA

Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.

She helps Antony to arm

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 doff’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 armed Soldier

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.

SOLDIER

A thousand, sir,

Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim,

And at the port expect you.

Shout within. Trumpets flourish. Enter ⌈Captains⌉ and Soldiers

CAPTAIN

The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.

SOLDIERS

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.

He kisses Cleopatra

Rebukable

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 all but Cleopatra and Charmian

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

4.5 Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, meeting a Soldier

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