Antony and Cleopatra — Act 4, Scene 2: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

In Cleopatra’s palace, Antony tells Enobarbus that Caesar will not agree to fight him hand-to-hand, because Caesar trusts his greater strength. Antony insists he will fight by sea and land the next day and either win or die honorably. He then calls in his household servants and, moved by despair, thanks them one by one for their loyal service, making them emotional by speaking as if he may not see them again. Cleopatra asks Enobarbus what he means, and Enobarbus says Antony is speaking out of sorrow. Antony quickly explains that he only wanted to cheer them and urges everyone to feast that night and put their fears aside.

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He will not fight with me, Domitius.

No.

Why should he not?

He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

To-morrow, soldier,

By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,

Or bathe my dying honour in the blood

Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?

I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants: let's to-night

Be bounteous at our meal.

Give me thy hand,

Thou hast been rightly honest;--so hast thou;--

Thou,--and thou,--and thou:--you have served me well,

And kings have been your fellows.

[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What means this?

[Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd

tricks which sorrow shoots

Out of the mind.

And thou art honest too.

I wish I could be made so many men,

And all of you clapp'd up together in

An Antony, that I might do you service

So good as you have done.

The gods forbid!

Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:

Scant not my cups; and make as much of me

As when mine empire was your fellow too,

And suffer'd my command.

[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?

[Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.

Tend me to-night;

May be it is the period of your duty:

Haply you shall not see me more; or if,

A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow

You'll serve another master. I look on you

As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,

I turn you not away; but, like a master

Married to your good service, stay till death:

Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,

And the gods yield you for't!

What mean you, sir,

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;

And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame,

Transform us not to women.

Ho, ho, ho!

Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall!

My hearty friends,

You take me in too dolorous a sense;

For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you

To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts,

I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you

Where rather I'll expect victorious life

Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come,

And drown consideration.