absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard From firm security. 

 ANTONY. I’ll fight at sea. 

 CLEOPATRA. I have sixty sails, Caesar none better. 

 ANTONY. Our overplus of shipping will we burn, And with the rest full-manned, from th’ head of Actium Beat th’ approaching Caesar. But if we fail, We then can do ’t at land. 

 Enter a Messenger. 

Messenger

 Thy business? 

 MESSENGER. The news is true, my lord; he is descried. Caesar has taken Toryne. 

 ANTONY. Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible; Strange that his power should be. Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. Away, my Thetis! 

 Enter a Soldier. 

Soldier

 How now, worthy soldier? 

 SOLDIER. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea. Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt This sword and these my wounds? Let th’ Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a-ducking. We Have used to conquer standing on the earth And fighting foot to foot. 

 ANTONY. Well, well, away. 

 [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus.] 

Antony, Cleopatra

Enobarbus

 SOLDIER. By Hercules, I think I am i’ th’ right. 

 CANIDIUS. Soldier, thou art. But his whole action grows Not in the power on ’t. So our leader’s led, And we are women’s men. 

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