Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHAR-
MIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and Others.

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius.
Eno.

Ant. Why should he not?

No.

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better

fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant.

To-morrow, soldier,

By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,

Or bathe my dying honour in the blood

Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?
Eno. I'll strike; and cry, Take all.

Ant.

Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants; let's to-night

Enter Servants.

Be bounteous at our meal.-Give me thy hand,
Thou hast been rightly honest;-so hast thou;-
And thou, and thou,—and thou:-you have serv'd
me well,

And kings have been your fellows.

Cleo.

What means this?

Eno. 'Tis one of those odd tricks, which sorrow

shoots

Out of the mind.

[Aside.

Ant.
And thou art honest too.
I wish, I could be made so many men;
And all of you clapp'd up together in
An Antony; that I might do you service,
So good as you have done.

Serv.

The gods forbid!

Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night: Scant not my cups; and make as much of me,

As when mine empire was your fellow too,

And suffer'd my command.

Cleo.

What does he mean?

Tend me to-night;

Eno. To make his followers weep.

Ant.

May be, it is the period of your duty:
Haply, you shall not see me more; or if,
A mangled shadow: perchance, to-morrow
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 to-night two hours, I ask no more,
And the gods yield you for't!

Eno.

To give them this discomfort?

And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd 45;
Transform us not to women.

Ant.

What mean you, sir,

Look, they weep;

for shame,

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:

I spake to you for your comfort: did desire you

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

I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you,

Where rather I'll expect victorious life,

Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come,
And drown consideration.

SCENE III.

The Same. Before the Palace.

Enter two Soldiers, to their guard.

[Exeunt.

1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. 2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 1 Sol. Nothing: what news? 2 Sold.

Good night to you.

1 Sold.

Belike, 'tis but a rumour:

Well, sir, good night.

Enter two other Soldiers.

2 Sold.

Have careful watch.

3 Sold.

Soldiers,

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

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.

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.

Cleo. Sooth, la, I'll help: Thus it must be. ›

Ant.

Well, well;

We shall thrive now.-See'st thou, my good fellow? Go, put on thy defences.

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