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Part 24

Antony and Cleopatra · William Shakespeare — chapter 24 of 43 · ~523 words · public domain

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Ant. By Sea, by Sea

Eno. Most worthy Sir, you therein throw away The absolute Soldiership you haue by Land, Distract your Armie, which doth most consist Of Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecuted Your owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoe The way which promises assurance, and Giue vp your selfe meerly to chance and hazard, From firme Securitie

Ant. Ile fight at Sea

Cleo. I haue sixty Sailes, Caesar none better

Ant. Our ouer-plus of shipping will we burne, And with the rest full mann'd, from th' head of Action Beate th' approaching Caesar. But if we faile, We then can doo't at Land. Enter a Messenger.

Thy Businesse? Mes. The Newes is true, my Lord, he is descried, Caesar ha's taken Toryne

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible Strange, that his power should be. Camidius, Our nineteene Legions thou shalt hold by Land, And our twelue thousand Horse. Wee'l to our Ship, Away my Thetis. Enter a Soldiour.

How now worthy Souldier? Soul. Oh Noble Emperor, do not fight by Sea, Trust not to rotten plankes: Do you misdoubt This Sword, and these my Wounds; let th' Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a ducking: wee Haue vs'd to conquer standing on the earth, And fighting foot to foot

Ant. Well, well, away.

exit Ant. Cleo. & Enob

Soul. By Hercules I thinke I am i'th' right

Cam. Souldier thou art: but his whole action growes Not in the power on't: so our Leaders leade, And we are Womens mens

Soul. You keepe by Land the Legions and the Horse whole, do you not? Ven. Marcus Octauius, Marcus Iusteus, Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea: But we keepe whole by Land. This speede of Caesars Carries beyond beleefe

Soul. While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions, As beguilde all Spies

Cam. Who's his Lieutenant, heare you? Soul. They say, one Towrus

Cam. Well, I know the man. Enter a Messenger.

Mes. The Emperor cals Camidius

Cam. With Newes the times with Labour, And throwes forth each minute, some.

Exeunt.

Enter Caesar with his Army, marching.

Caes Towrus? Tow. My Lord

Caes Strike not by Land, Keepe whole, prouoke not Battaile Till we haue done at Sea. Do not exceede The Prescript of this Scroule: Our fortune lyes Vpon this iumpe. Enter.

Enter Anthony, and Enobarbus.

Ant. Set we our Squadrons on yond side o'th' Hill, In eye of Caesars battaile, from which place We may the number of the Ships behold, And so proceed accordingly. Enter.

Camidius Marcheth with his Land Army one way ouer the stage, and Towrus the Lieutenant of Caesar the other way: After their going in, is heard the noise of a Sea fight. Alarum. Enter Enobarbus and Scarus.

Eno. Naught, naught, al naught, I can behold no longer: Thantoniad, the Egyptian Admirall, With all their sixty flye, and turne the Rudder: To see't, mine eyes are blasted. Enter Scarrus.

Scar. Gods, & Goddesses, all the whol synod of them! Eno. What's thy passion

Scar. The greater Cantle of the world, is lost With very ignorance, we haue kist away Kingdomes, and Prouinces

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