Act IIIScene X
Another part of the Plain
Canidius marching with his land army one way over the stage, and Taurus, the Lieutenant of Caesar, with his Army, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea fight.
Alarum. Enter Enobarbus.
Enobarbus
Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer.Th’ Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.To see ’t mine eyes are blasted.
Enter Scarus.
Scarus
Gods and goddesses,All the whole synod of them!
Enobarbus
What’s thy passion?
Scarus
The greater cantle of the world is lostWith very ignorance. We have kissed awayKingdoms and provinces.
Enobarbus
How appears the fight?
Scarus
On our side, like the tokened pestilence,Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,Whom leprosy o’ertake, i’ th’ midst o’ th’ fight,When vantage like a pair of twins appeared,Both as the same—or, rather, ours the elder—The breeze upon her, like a cow in June,Hoists sails and flies.
Enobarbus
That I beheld.Mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could notEndure a further view.
Scarus
She once being loofed,The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,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 beforeDid violate so itself.
Enobarbus
Alack, alack!
Enter Canidius.
Canidius
Our fortune on the sea is out of breathAnd sinks most lamentably. Had our generalBeen what he knew himself, it had gone well.O, he has given example for our flightMost grossly by his own!
Enobarbus
Ay, are you thereabouts?Why, then, good night indeed.
Canidius
Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
Scarus
’Tis easy to’t, and there I will attendWhat further comes.
Canidius
To Caesar will I renderMy legions and my horse. Six kings alreadyShow me the way of yielding.
Enobarbus
I’ll yet followThe wounded chance of Antony, though my reasonSits in the wind against me.
Exeunt.