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

What's this for?

Ant.

Nay, I'll help too.

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.-Seest thou, my good fellow?
Go, put on thy defences.

Eros.

Briefly, sir."

Cleo. Is not this buckled well?

Ant.

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: Despatch.-O love, That thou could'st see my wars to-day, and knew'st The royal occupation! thou should'st see

Enter an Officer, armed.

A workman in't.-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 it with delight.

1 Öff.

A thousand, sir,

Early though it be, have on their riveted trim,
And at the port expect you.

[Shout. Trumpets. Flourish.

4 Briefly, sir.] That is, quickly, sir.

To doff't-] To doff is to do off, to put off.

• More tight at this, than thou:] Tight is handy, adroit.

Enter other Officers, and Soldiers.

2 Off. The morn is fair.-Good morrow, general. All. Good morrow, general.

Ant. '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: rebukable, [Kisses her.
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
On more mechanick 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.

Lead me.

[Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, Officers, and Soldiers. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony,-But now,-Well, on. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Antony's Camp near Alexandria.

Trumpets sound.

Enter ANTONY and EROS; a

Soldier meeting them.

Sold. The gods make this a happy day to Antony! Ant. 'Would, thou and those thy scars had once

prevail'd

To make me fight at land!

Sold.

Had'st thou done so,

The kings that have revolted, and the soldier
That has this morning left thee, would have still
Follow'd thy heels.

Ant.

Sold.

Who's gone this morning?

One ever near thee: Call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee; or from Cæsar's camp

Who?

He is with Cæsar.

Say, I am none of thine.

Ant.

What say'st thou?

Sold.

Sir,

Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him (I will subscribe) gentle adieus, and greetings: Say, that I wish he never find more cause To change a master.-O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men:-Eros, despatch. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Cæsar's Camp before Alexandria.

Flourish. Enter CESAR, with AGRIPPA, ENOBARBUS, and Others.

Cæs. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight: Our will is, Antony be took alive;'

7 Our will is, Antony be took alive;] It is observable with what judgment Shakspeare draws the character of Octavius. Antony was his hero; so the other was not to shine: yet being an historical character, there was a necessity to draw him like. But the ancient historians, his flatterers, had delivered him down so fair, that he seems ready cut and dried for a hero. Amidst these difficulties Shakspeare has extricated himself with great address. He has admitted all those great strokes of his character as he found them, and yet has made him a very unamiable character, deceitful, meanspirited, narrow-minded, proud, and revengeful. WARBURTON.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exit AGRIPPA.

Ces. The time of universal peace is near:

Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world Shail hear the olive freely.

Plant those that have revcited in the van,
That Antony may seem to spend his fury
Coon himself.

[Exeunt CESAR and his Train.
Eno. Alexas fid revolt; and went to Jewry,
Cn affairs of Antony; there did persuade
Great Sered to incline himself to Cæsar,
And leave his master Antony: for this pains,
Cesar bath hang i him. Canidius, and the rest
That fell away, have entertainment, but
No honeuracie rust. I have done ill;
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
That I will fov no more.

Sold.

Enter a Soldier of Cæsar's.

Enobarbus, Antony

Hath after thee sent ail thy treasure, with
His bounty overpius: The messenger
Came on my guard: and at thy tent is now,
Unicading of his mules.

Eno. I give it you.

Svid Mock me not, Enobarbus. I tell you true: Best that you saf`d the bringer Out of the host; I must attend mine office, Or would have done't myself. Your emperor Continues still a Jove. [Exit Soldier.

Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth,

8

And feel I am so most. O Antony,

Thou mine of bounty, how would'st thou have paid
My better service, when my turpitude

Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart:"
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do't, I feel.'
I fight against thee!-No: I will go seek

Some ditch, wherein to die; the foul'st best fits
My latter part of life.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

Field of Battle between the Camps.

Alarum. Drums and Trumpets.

and Others.

Enter AGRIppa,

Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far: Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression2 Exceeds what we expected.

[Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, wounded.

Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had driven them home With clouts about their heads."

Ant.

Thou bleed'st apace.

And feel I am so most.] i. e. I am pre-eminently the first, the greatest villain of the earth. To stand alone, is still used in that sense, where any one towers above his competitors. And feel I am so most, must signify, I feel or know it myself, more than any other person can or does feel it. REED.

9

This blows my heart:] This generosity, (says Enobarbus,) swells my heart, so that it will quickly break, if thought break it not, a swifter mean.

1

but thought will do't, I feel.] Thought, in this passage, as in many others, signifies melancholy.

2 — and our oppression-] i. e. the force by which we are oppressed or overpowered.