O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determin'd things to destiny

Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome!
Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd

Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
To do you justice, make us ministers

To work their mighty will. Again, most welcome!
No heart in Rome but loves and pities you.
Only adulterous Antony forsakes you,
And gives his potent empire to a trull,
That noises it against us. Cheer you, sister;
Be ever known to patience: let me lead you
Where you shall find the tendance that befits you.

We must suppose the lapse of many months before we bring the next scene before our thoughts. This is laid near the promontory of Actium on the north-western shore of Greece, which overlooks the southern extremity of Italy. To this place Antony has drawn an immense army from Africa and Asia with a correspondent fleet, and has been lying here for some months as with the intention of landing in Italy. His rival, meanwhile, with an equal fleet and army, has landed in Greece, northward of Antony, has brought down his army to Toryné, on the other side of the gulph where the fleet of Antony is at anchor with the army on shore behind it, and has ordered his fleet round the coast so as to occupy the mouth of the same gulph: and there, we are bound to imagine, it now lies near to that of Antony. For ourselves, the witnesses of this imagined scene, we are in the camp of Antony at some little distance from us, let him be supposed in earnest conversation with Canidius his general; while Cleopatra, in the foreground, is engaged in dispute with Enobarbus. Cleopatra is the first whom we hear speak:

[Cleopatra.] I will be even with thee, doubt it not :

Why shouldst thou, as I learn thou hast, forespeak
My being in these wars, or say to Antony

It is not fit?

[Enobarbus.] Well, is it, is it fit?

[Cleopatra.] Why should it not?

[Enobarbus.] Your presence needs must puzzle Antony,
Take from his heart, take from his brain, and from
His time, what can't be spar'd. He is already
Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
That Photinus, a eunuch, and your maids
Manage this war.

[Cleopatra.] Sink Rome, and rot the tongues

That speak against me.

Bear I not a charge

In this our common war? and shall I not,

As ruler of my kingdom, take my part

As might become a man? Speak not against it;
I'll have my way herein.

[Enobarbus.] Nay, I have done :

Here comes the emperor.

Antony approaches, still speaking with Camidius: [Antony.] Is 't not strange, Canidius,

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
And be at Toryné: Canidius, we
Will fight with him by sea?

Cleopatra breaks into their discourse, exclaiming, " By sea, by sea-what else?" Antony takes his position near to her, while his lieutenants, Canidius and Enobarbus, continue the discussion: Canidius speaks:

[Canidius.] That Cæsar dares you to a fight at sea,
Is a good reason you should fight by land.
You dar'd him to a single fight; you dar'd him
To wage this battle at Pharsalia, where

Cæsar and Pompey fought: but both these offers,
Which promise no advantage, he shakes off:
And so, what he would dare you to, should you
Refuse.

[Enobarbus.] Canidius counsels well and, sir,

Bethink you that your ships are not well mann'd,

are

Your mariners
reapers, muleteers,
And others rais'd by swift impress; while Cæsar
Commands a fleet harden'd in fights with Sextus.
Their ships are light, yours heavy. No disgrace
Shall stain you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepar'd for land.

[Antony.] By sea, by sea!

[Canidius.] Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
The absolute soldiership you have by land;
Distract your valiant army'; and from security,
Give yourself up to chance or hazard only.

[Antony.] I'll fight at sea: my queen hath sixty sails,
Cæsar none better: the overplus we 'll burn,

And, with the rest full-mann'd, off yonder promontory,
Beat the approaching Cæsar. If we fail,

'Tis time to fight by land. Therefore, Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt have in charge,
And our twelve thousand horse; while we embark
And take the lead at sea. Away, my Thetis !

[Enobarbus.] Once more, O noble emperor, let me say,
Oh, do not fight by sea! Let the Egyptians
And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we

Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.

[Antony.] No more: away!

Canidius, set our squadrons on the hill;

My queen and I will straight embark :-On, there!

Canidius and Enobarbus follow at some little distance, speaking to each other.

[Canidius.] Thus, Enobarbus, is our leader led,

And we are women's men. This speed of Cæsar's
Runs far beyond belief. Ere he left Rome
His power went out detachedly, and so

Our spies have been beguil'd.

[Enobarbus.] Know you, Canidius,

The name of his lieutenant ?

[me:

[Canidius.] They say one Taurus.-See, the emperor calls Time labours now with great events; each minute Now has its throes. To' your post, good Enobarbus.

Let us follow the steps of Enobarbus, and take his report for what is passing before his eyes: the noise of a sea-fight is heard the soldiers of Antony, among whom we suppose ourselves to stand, view the fight with the interest of men whose fortunes are involved in the issue. As the fleets extend their lines, Caesar's to outflank Antony's, and Antony's to prevent that manœuvre, the silence or shouts of the men on shore indicate their fears and their hopes. Near to Enobarbus stands Scarus, one of his fellow-soldiers. Canidius, now in command, is at no great distance; and shortly after rejoins Enobarbus. While we are thus placed in the midst of those who see the battle, we hear the sudden exclamations of Enobarbus:

[no longer : [Enobarbus.] Naught, naught, all's naught! I can behold She flies, she flies! the Egyptian admi'ral flies! The Antoniad turns the rudder, and her fleet, Her sixty sails, go after her :-mine eyes

Are blasted by the sight.-Dost thou see, Scarus ?

[Scarus.] O gods and goddesses! can it be possible?
What is a world, a glorious world, thus lost
By very ignorance! what! thus kiss away
Kingdoms and provinces! What says Canidius?
Noble commander, how appears the fight?

[Canidius.] On our side, like the spotted pestilence
Where death is sure. Yon ribald hag of Egypt-
Whom leprosy o'ertake!-i' the midst o' the fight,
When vantage on our side appear'd, hoists sails,
And there she flies, like to a cow in June
Stung by the gad-bee.

U

[Enobarbus.] But Antony?

[Canidius.] Antony! how shall I speak of him?-of him,
The noble ruin of her magic? Antony
Claps on his wings, and, like a doating mallard,
Has left the fight: look, he flies after her!
I never saw an action of such shame:
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
O, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly by his own! If I should render
To Cæsar up my legions, 'tis but following
The way six kings have shown to me already.

[Enobarbus.] Ay, are you thereabouts? Good night, indeed,
If so you should resolve. 'Tis easy hence :-
They a're fled to Pelo'ponnesus: I'll yet follow
The wounded chance of Anto'ny, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me.

Again we must suppose an interval of time, during which Antony reaches Alexandria, and Cæsar in pursuit encamps near the city. We are to imagine a room in the palace: Antony enters with several of his adherents:

[Antony.] Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon it, It is asham'd to bear me !-Friends, come hither; I'm a belated traveller, that have lost

My way for ever. Leave me: I've a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it, fly,

And make your peace with Cæsar.-You will nót ?
I've fled myself, and have instructed cowards

To run, and show their shoulders. Friends, begone!
I have myself resolv'd upon a course

Which has no need of you; begone, begone!
My treasure's in the harbour; take it :-oh,
I've follow'd what I now do blush to look on :
My very hair doth mutiny; for the brown
Reproves the white for doting: Friends, begone!
You shall have letters to some friends, that will