Page 2504 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Most kind messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this in deputation:
I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt [75]
To lay my crown at’s feet, and there to kneel:

Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.

THIDIAS
’Tis your noblest course.
Wisdom and fortune combating together,

If that the former dare but what it can, [80]
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.

CLEOPATRA
Your Cæsar’s father oft,
When he hath mus’d of taking kingdoms in,

Bestow’d his lips on that unworthy place,
As it rain’d kisses.

(Re-)enter Antony and Enobarbus.

ANTONY
Favours? By Jove that thunders! [85]
What art thou, fellow?

THIDIAS
One that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey’d.

ENOBARBUS
(Aside.) You will be whipp’d.

ANTONY
Approach there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods and devils,

Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried ‘Ho!’ [90]