Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Ant. How intend you practis'd? Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you; you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business my brother never : Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it; And have my learning from some true reports, That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours; And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this my letters Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, Cæs. You praise yourself Ant. Not so, not so; I know you could not lack, I am certain on 't, Very necessity of this thought, that I, Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, I would you had her spirit in such another : The third o' th' world is yours, which with a snaffle You may pace easy, but not such a wife. Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable her garboils, Cæsar, Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant, Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must Cæs. I wrote to you, When rioting in Alexandria; you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Ant. Sir, He fell upon me ere admitted: then Out of our question wipe him. Cæs. You have broken The article of your oath, which you shall never Have tongue to charge me with. Lep. Soft, Cæsar. Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak: The honour's sacred which he talks on now, Cæs. To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them, The which you both deni'd. Neglected, rather; Ant. And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; For which myself, the ignorant motive, do So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour To stoop in such a case. Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken. Mecanas. If it might please you, to enforce no farther The griefs between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you. Lep. Worthily spoken, Mecænas. Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do. Ant. Thou art a soldier only speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot. Ant. You wrong this presence; therefore, speak no more. Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. Cæs. I do not much dislike the matter, but What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge Agrippa. Cæs. Speak, Agrippa. Give me leave, Cæsar, Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony Is now a widower. Cæs. Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserv'd of rashness. Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa farther speak. Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men, All little jealousies, which now seem great, Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Cæs. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already. Ant. If I would say, 'Agrippa, be it so,' To make this good? Cas. What power is in Agrippa, The power of Cæsar, and May I never His power unto Octavia. Ant. To this good purpose, that so fairly shews, Dream of impediment ! Let me have thy hand: Cæs. There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother Did ever love so dearly: let her live To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Lep. Happily, amen. Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey; For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great, Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Or else he seeks out us. Cæs. Great, and increasing; but by sea He is an absolute master. Ant. So is the fame. Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it; Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of. Cæs. And do invite you to my sister's view, Whither straight I'll lead you. Ant. Not lack your company. Lep. With most gladness; Let us, Lepidus, Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me. [Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and Lep IDUS. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir. Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecænas! my honourable friend, Agrippa! Agr. Good Enobarbus! Mec. We have cause to be glad that matters so well digested. You stay'd well by 't in Egypt. are Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. |