Open Source Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

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Act III, Scene 10

Another part of the plain.

       

[CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way over] [p]the stage; and TAURUS, the lieutenant of OCTAVIUS [p]CAESAR, the other way. After their going in, is [p]heard the noise of a sea-fight]

[Alarum. Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

  • Domitius Enobarus. Naught, naught all, naught! I can behold no longer:
    The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,
    With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder:
    To see't mine eyes are blasted. 2065

[Enter SCARUS]

  • Scarus. Gods and goddesses,
    All the whole synod of them!
  • Domitius Enobarus. What's thy passion!
  • Scarus. The greater cantle of the world is lost 2070
    With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
    Kingdoms and provinces.
  • Domitius Enobarus. How appears the fight?
  • Scarus. On our side like the token'd pestilence,
    Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,— 2075
    Whom leprosy o'ertake!—i' the midst o' the fight,
    When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
    Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,
    The breese upon her, like a cow in June,
    Hoists sails and flies. 2080
  • Domitius Enobarus. That I beheld:
    Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
    Endure a further view.
  • Scarus. She once being loof'd,
    The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, 2085
    Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard,
    Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:
    I never saw an action of such shame;
    Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
    Did violate so itself. 2090
  • Domitius Enobarus. Alack, alack!

[Enter CANIDIUS]

  • Canidius. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
    And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
    Been what he knew himself, it had gone well: 2095
    O, he has given example for our flight,
    Most grossly, by his own!
  • Domitius Enobarus. Ay, are you thereabouts?
    Why, then, good night indeed.
  • Canidius. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled. 2100
  • Scarus. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
    What further comes.
  • Canidius. To Caesar will I render
    My legions and my horse: six kings already
    Show me the way of yielding. 2105
  • Domitius Enobarus. I'll yet follow
    The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
    Sits in the wind against me.

[Exeunt]