Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra/Act 3 Scene 7
Enter Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.
Cleo.I will be euen with thee, doubt it not.
Eno.But why, why, why?
Cleo.Thou hast forespoke my being in these warres,And say'st it is not fit.
Eno.Well: is it, is it.
Cleo.If not, denounc'd against vs, why should notwe be there in person.
Enob.Well, I could reply: if wee should serue withHorse and Mares together, the Horse were meerly lost:the Mares would beare a Soldiour and his Horse.
Cleo.What is't you say?
Enob.Your presence needs must puzle Anthony,Take from his heart, take from his Braine, from's time,What should not then be spar'd. He is alreadyTraduc'd for Leuity, and 'tis said in Rome,That Photinus an Eunuch, and your MaidesMannage this warre.
Cleo.Sinke Rome, and their tongues rotThat speake against vs. A Charge we beare i'th'Warre,And as the president of my Kingdome willAppeare there for a man. Speake not against it,I will not stay behinde.
Enter Anthony and Camidius.
Eno.Nay I haue done, here comes the Emperor.
Ant.Is it not strange Camidius,That from Tarrentum, and Brandusium,He could so quickly cut the Ionian Sea,And take in Troine. You haue heard on't (Sweet?)
Cleo.Celerity is neuer more admir'd,Then by the negligent.
Ant.A good rebuke,Which might haue well becom'd the best of menTo taunt at slacknesse. Camidius, weeWill fight with him by Sea.
Cleo.By Sea, what else?
Cam.Why will my Lord, do so?
Ant.For that he dares vs too't.
Enob.So hath my Lord, dar'd him to single fight.
Cam.I, and to wage this Battell at Pharsalia,Where Cæsar fought with Pompey. But these offersWhich serue not for his vantage, he shakes off,And so should you.
Enob.Your Shippes are not well mann'd,Your Marriners are Militers, Reapers, peopleIngrost by swift Impresse. In Cæsars Fleete,Are those, that often haue 'gainst Pompey fought,Their shippes are yare, yours heauy: no disgraceShall fall you for refusing him at Sea,Being prepar'd for Land.
Ant.By Sea, by Sea.
Eno.Most worthy Sir, you therein throw awayThe absolute Soldiership you haue by Land,Distract your Armie, which doth most consistOf Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecutedYour owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoeThe way which promises assurance, andGiue vp your selfe meerly to chance and hazard,From firme Securitie.
Ant.Ile fight at Sea.
Cleo.I haue sixty Sailes, Cæsar none better.
Ant.Our ouer-plus of shipping will we burne, of ActionBeate th'approaching Cæsar. But if we faile,Enter a Messenger.We then can doo't at Land.Thy Businesse?
Mes.The Newes is true, my Lord, he is descried,Cæsar ha's taken Toryne.
Ant.Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossibleStrange, that his power should be. Camidius,Our nineteene Legions thou shalt hold by Land,And our twelue thousand Horse. Wee'l to our Ship,Away my Thetis.Enter a Soldiour.How now worthy Souldier?
Soul.Oh Noble Emperor, do not fight by Sea,Trust not to rotten plankes: Do you misdoubtThis Sword, and these my Wounds; let th'EgyptiansAnd the Phœnicians go a ducking: weeHaue vs'd to conquer standing on the earth,And fighting foot to foot.
Ant.exit Ant. Cleo. & Enob.Well, well, away.
Soul.By Hercules I thinke I am i'th'right.
Cam.Souldier thou art: but his whole action growesNot in the power on't: so our Leaders leade,And we are Womens men.
Soul.You keepe by Land the Legions and the Horsewhole, do you not?
Ven.Note: This speech is conventionally attributed to Camidius.Marcus Octauius, Marcus Iusteus,Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea:But we keepe whole by Land. This speede of CæsarsCarries beyond beleefe.
Soul.While he was yet in Rome.His power went out in such distractions,As beguilde all Spies.
Cam.Who's his Lieutenant, heare you?
Soul.They say, one Towrus.
Cam.Well, I know the man.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes.The Emperor cals Camidius.
Cam.With Newes the times wit a Labour,exeunt.And throwes forth each minute, some.