The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Antony, Caesar, Octavia between them.
2 ANTONY.
3 The world and my great office will sometimes
4 Divide me from your bosom.
5 OCTAVIA.
6 All which time
7 Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
8 To them for you.
9 ANTONY.
10 Good night, sir.—My Octavia,
11 Read not my blemishes in the world’s report.
12 I have not kept my square, but that to come
13 Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady.
14 OCTAVIA.
15 Good night, sir.
16 CAESAR.
17 Good night.
18 [_Exeunt Caesar and Octavia._]
19 Enter Soothsayer.
20 ANTONY.
21 Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?
22 SOOTHSAYER.
23 Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!
24 ANTONY.
25 If you can, your reason.
26 SOOTHSAYER.
27 I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue.
28 But yet hie you to Egypt again.
29 ANTONY.
30 Say to me,
31 Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine?
32 SOOTHSAYER.
33 Caesar’s.
34 Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side.
35 Thy dæmon—that thy spirit which keeps thee—is
36 Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
37 Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel
38 Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore
39 Make space enough between you.
40 ANTONY.
41 Speak this no more.
42 SOOTHSAYER.
43 To none but thee; no more but when to thee.
44 If thou dost play with him at any game,
45 Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck
46 He beats thee ’gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens
47 When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit
48 Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
49 But, he away, ’tis noble.
50 ANTONY.
51 Get thee gone.
52 Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
53 [_Exit Soothsayer._]
54 He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
55 He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him,
56 And in our sports my better cunning faints
57 Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds;
58 His cocks do win the battle still of mine
59 When it is all to naught, and his quails ever
60 Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt:
61 And though I make this marriage for my peace,
62 I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.
63 Enter Ventidius.
64 O, come, Ventidius,
65 You must to Parthia. Your commission’s ready.
66 Follow me and receive ’t.
67 [_Exeunt._]