Act III, Scene 7

Near Actium. MARK ANTONY’s camp

[Enter CLEOPATRA and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

Cleopatra - I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

Domitius Enobarus - But why, why, why?

Cleopatra - Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, And say'st it is not fit.

Domitius Enobarus - Well, is it, is it?

Cleopatra - If not denounced against us, why should not we Be there in person?

Domitius Enobarus - [Aside] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier and his horse.

Cleopatra - What is't you say?

Domitius Enobarus - Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, 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 - 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 Enobarus - Nay, I have done. Here comes the emperor.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and CANIDIUS]

Antony - Is it not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?

Cleopatra - Celerity is never more admired Than by the negligent.

Antony - A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea.

Cleopatra - By sea! what else?

Canidius - Why will my lord do so?

Antony - For that he dares us to't.

Domitius Enobarus - 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 Enobarus - 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 Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land.

Antony - By sea, by sea.

Domitius Enobarus - Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; 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, From firm security.

Antony - I'll fight at sea.

Cleopatra - I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

Antony - Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium 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.

Antony - 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]

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 Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, And fighting foot to foot.

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 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, 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 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 - With news the time's with labour, and throes forth, Each minute, some.

[Exeunt]