SCENE VI.

Rome. A Room in CÆSAR'S House.

Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS.

Cæs. Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and

more,

In Alexandria: here's the manner of it.
I' th' market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthron'd: at the feet sat
Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son,
And all the unlawful issue that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

Absolute queen.

Mec.

This in the public eye?

Cæs. I' th' common shew-place, where they exer

cise.

His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She

In th' habiliments of the goddess Isis

That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so.

Mec. Inform'd.

Let Rome be thus

Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence

Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

Cæs. The people know it; and have now receiv'd His accusations.

Agr.

Whom does he accuse?

Cæs. Cæsar; and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
His part o' th' isle: then does he say, he lent me
Some shipping unrestor'd lastly, he frets,
That Lepidus of the triumvirate

Should be depos'd; and, being that, we detain
All his revenue.

Agr.

Sir, this should be answer'd.

Cæs. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abus'd,

And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,

I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,

And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
Demand the like.

Mec.

He'll never yield to that.

Cæs. Nor must not, then, be yielded to in this.

Enter OCTAVIA, with a few Attendants.

Octa. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar !

Cæs. That ever I should call thee cast-away!

Octa. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. Cæs. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You

come not

Like Cæsar's sister: the wife of Antony

Should have an army for an usher, and

The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,

Long ere she did appear; the trees by th' way
Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Rais'd by your populous troops. But you are come
A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented

The ostentation of our love, which, left unshewn,
Is often held unlov'd: we should have met you
By sea and land, supplying every stage.

With an augmented greeting.

Octa.

Good my lord,

To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On my free-will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
His pardon for return.

Cas.

Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

Which soon he granted,

I have eyes upon him,

Octa. Do not say so, my lord.

Cæs.

And his affairs come to me on the wind.

Where is he now?

Octa.

My lord, in Athens.

Cæs. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her: he hath given his empire

Up to a whore; who now are levying

The kings o' th' earth for war.

He hath assembled

Bocchus, the King of Lybia; Archelaus,

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, King

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian King, Adallas :
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, King

Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,
The Kings of Mede, and Lycaonia,
With a more larger list of sceptres.
Octa.

Ay me, most wretched,

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That do afflict each other!

Cas.

Welcome hither.

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth,

Till we perceiv'd, both how you were wrong led,

And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determin'd things to destiny

Hold unbewail'd their way.

Nothing more dear to me.

Welcome to Rome

You are abus'd

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Beyond the mark of thought; and the high gods,
To do you justice, make their ministers

Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
And ever welcome to us.

Agr.

Welcome, lady.

Mec. Welcome, dear madam.

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Only th' adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off,

And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises it against us.

Octa.

Is it so, sir?

Cæs. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you, Be ever known to patience. My dearest sister!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

ANTONY'S Camp, near the Promontory of Actium.

Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS.

Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
Eno. But why, why, why?

Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these wars,

And say'st, it is not fit.

Eno. Well, is it, is it?

Cleo. If not, denounce 't against us, why should

Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply:

If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier and his horse.

Cleo.

Eno.

What is 't you say?

Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from 's time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids, Manage this war.

Cleo.

Sink Rome; and their tongues rot

That speak against us! A charge we bear i̇' th' war, And as the president of my kingdom will

That from Tarentum, and Brundusium,

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,

And take in Toryne? - You have heard on 't, sweet?

Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd

Than by the negligent.

Ant.

A good rebuke,

become the best of men,
Canidius, we

Which might have well
To taunt at slackness.
Will fight with him by sea.
Cleo.

By sea! What else?

Canidius. Why will my lord do so?

Ant.

Eno.

For that he dares us to 't.

So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,