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? 1940

• 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 1945
  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, 1950
  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 1955
  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. 1960
  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, 1965
  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, 1970
  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. 1975

• 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. 1980

• 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 1985
  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; 1990
  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, 1995
  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 2000
  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; 2005
  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: 2010
  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 2015
  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! 2020

[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. 2025

• 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 2030
  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? 2035

• 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, 2040
  Each minute, some.

[Exeunt]