Act IV, Scene 2

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace

[Enter MARK ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others]

Antony - He will not fight with me, Domitius.

Domitius Enobarus - No.

Antony - Why should he not?

Domitius Enobarus - He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.

Antony - 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?

Domitius Enobarus - I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

Antony - Well said; come on. Call forth my household servants: let's to-night Be bounteous at our meal.

[Enter three or four Servitors]

Give me thy hand, Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou;— Thou,—and thou,—and thou:—you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows.

Cleopatra - [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What means this?

Domitius Enobarus - [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.

Antony - 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.

All - The gods forbid!

Antony - 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.

Cleopatra - [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?

Domitius Enobarus - [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.

Antony - Tend me to-night; 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!

Domitius Enobarus - What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame, Transform us not to women.

Antony - 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; For 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.

[Exeunt]