TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. A plain in Syria.
SCENE II. Rome. An ante-chamber in OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE III. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE IV. Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY's house.
SCENE V. The same. Another room.
SCENE VI. Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.
SCENE VII. Near Actium. MARK ANTONY's camp.
SCENE VIII. A plain near Actium.
SCENE IX. Another part of the plain.
SCENE X. Another part of the plain.
SCENE XI. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
SCENE XII. Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.
SCENE XIII. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE VII. Near Actium. MARK ANTONY's camp.
Enter CLEOPATRA and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
CLEOPATRA
      I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
      But why, why, why?
CLEOPATRA
      Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,
      And say'st it is not fit.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
5     Well, is it, is it?
CLEOPATRA
      If not denounced against us, why should not we
      Be there in person?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
      (Aside) Well, I could reply:
      If we should serve with horse and mares together,
10    The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear
      A soldier and his horse.
CLEOPATRA
      What is't you say?
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
      Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;
      Take from his heart, take from his brain,
15    from's time,
      What should not then be spared. He is already
      Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
      That Photinus an eunuch and your maids
      Manage this war.
CLEOPATRA
20    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.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
25    Nay, I have done.
      Here comes the emperor.
Enter MARK ANTONY and CANIDIUS
MARK ANTONY
      Is it not strange, Canidius,
      That from Tarentum and Brundusium
      He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
30    And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?
CLEOPATRA
      Celerity is never more admired
      Than by the negligent.
MARK ANTONY
      A good rebuke,
      Which might have well becomed the best of men,
35    To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we
      Will fight with him by sea.
CLEOPATRA
      By sea! what else?
CANIDIUS
      Why will my lord do so?
MARK ANTONY
      For that he dares us to't.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
40    So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
CANIDIUS
      Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia.
      Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers,
      Which serve not for his vantage, be shakes off;
      And so should you.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
45    Your ships are not well mann'd;
      Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people
      Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet
      Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:
      Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace
50    Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
      Being prepared for land.
MARK ANTONY
      By sea, by sea.
DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
      Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
      The absolute soldiership you have by land;
55    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 merely to chance and hazard,
60    From firm security.
MARK ANTONY
      I'll fight at sea.
CLEOPATRA
      I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
MARK ANTONY
      Our overplus of shipping will we burn;
      And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium
65    Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail,
      We then can do't at land.

Enter a Messenger

      Thy business?
Messenger
      The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
      Caesar has taken Toryne.
MARK ANTONY
70    Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
      Strange that power should be. Canidius,
      Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
      And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship:
      Away, my Thetis!

Enter a Soldier

75    How now, worthy soldier?
Soldier
      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 Phoenicians go a-ducking; we
80    Have used to conquer, standing on the earth,
      And fighting foot to foot.
MARK ANTONY
      Well, well: away!
Exeunt MARK ANTONY, QUEEN CLEOPATRA, and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS
Soldier
      By Hercules, I think I am i' the right.
CANIDIUS
      Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows
85    Not in the power on't: so our leader's led,
      And we are women's men.
Soldier
      You keep by land
      The legions and the horse whole, do you not?
CANIDIUS
      Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
90    Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea:
      But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's
      Carries beyond belief.
Soldier
      While he was yet in Rome,
      His power went out in such distractions as
95    Beguiled all spies.
CANIDIUS
      Who's his lieutenant, hear you?
Soldier
      They say, one Taurus.
CANIDIUS
      Well I know the man.
Enter a Messenger
Messenger
      The emperor calls Canidius.
CANIDIUS
100   With news the time's with labour, and throes forth,
      Each minute, some.
Exeunt
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