Antony and Cleopatra

Before Alexandria.CÆSAR’S Camp.

Enter CÆSAR, reading a letter; AGRIPPA, MECÆNAS, and Others.

Cæs.He calls me boy, and chides as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger

He hath whipp’d with rods; dares me to personal combat,

Cæsar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know

I have many other ways to die; meantime

Laugh at his challenge.

Mec.Cæsar must think,

When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted

Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now

Make boot of his distraction: never anger

Made good guard for itself.

Cæs.Let our best heads

Know that to-morrow the last of many battles

We mean to fight. Within our files there are,

Of those that serv’d Mark Antony but late,

Enough to fetch him in. See it done;

And feast the army; we have store to do ’t,

And they have earn’d the waste. Poor Antony![Exeunt.