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Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, 10
Made out of her impatience (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too) I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must
But say I could not help it.

Cas. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cas. 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' is sacred which he talks on now,

Supposing that I lack'd it :-But on, Cæsar;The article of my oath,

Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them;

The which you both deny'd.
Ant. Neglected, rather;

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

Το

stoop in such a case.

Lep. "Tis nobly spoken.

[ther

Mec. If it might please you to enforce no furThe griefs between you: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you.

Lep. Worthily spoken, Mecanas.

Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone ‘.
Cas. I do not much dislike the matter, but
The manner of his speech: for it cannot be,
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge
to edge

O' the world I would pursue it.
Agr. Give me leave, Cæsar,—
Cas. Speak, Agrippa.

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony
Is now a widower.

Cas. Say not so, Agrippa;

15 If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, 20 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 ; Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak 25 That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing, truths would be tales, Where now half tales be truths: her love to both 30 Would each to other, and all loves to both, Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated.

135

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Ant. Will Cæsar speak?

Cas. Not 'till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already.

Ant. What power is in Agrippa,

If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,
To make this good?

Cas. The power of Cæsar, and
His power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shews, Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: 45 Further this act of grace; and, from this hour, The heart of brothers govern in our loves, And sway our great designs!

Cas. There is my hand.

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother 50 Did ever love so dearly: Let her live To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again! Lep. Happily! Amen!

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 55 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.

[no more. 60

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

1i. e. opposed.

[Pompey;

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great, Of late upon me: I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; At heel of that, defy him.

Lep. Time calls upon us :

Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.

3 Mean

2 i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his last audience. ing, the religion of an oath. * i. e. “I will henceforth seem senseless as a stone, however I may ●bserve and consider your words and actions.”

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Ant. Where lies he?

Cas. About the mount Misenam.

Ant. What is his strength by land? Cas. Great and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master.

Ant. So is the fame.

'Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for't:| Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of.

Cas. With most gladness;

And do invite you to my sister's view,.
Whither straight I will lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus,
Not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony,

Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt Cæsar, Antony, and Lepidus. 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 are so well digested. You staid well by it in Egypt. Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. Mec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there;-Is this true? Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

Mec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.

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Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she purs'd up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There she appear'd indeed; or my reporter 35 Devis'd well for her.

Eno. I will tell you:

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfum'd, that

The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were silver;

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Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 45
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue)
O'er-picturing that Venus where we see
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, 50
With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr. O, rare for Antony!

Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And made their bends adornings: at the helm A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackles

155

Eno. I saw her once

Hop forty paces through the publick street:
And having lost her breath, she spoke,and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,

And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not:

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: Other women cloy
The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
Bless her, when she is riggish'.

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery to him.

Agr. Let us go.

Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest,' Whilst you abide here.

Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

Enter Casar, Antony, Octavia between them; Attendants, and a Soothsayer.

Ant. The world, and my great office, will

sometimes

Divide me from your bosom.

Octa. All which time,
Before the gods my knee shall bow in prayers
To them for you.

Ant. Good night, sir.-My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
I have not kept my square; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule.Good night,dear lady.
Octa. Good night, sir.

Cas. Good night. [Exeunt Cæsar, and Octavia. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Ægypt?

1i. e. if report quadrates with her, or suits with her merits.

2 Mr. Tollet thinks bends or bands is the same word, and means in this place the several companies of Nereïds that waited on Cleopatra: while Mr. Malone apprehends, their bends refers to Cleopatra's eyes, and not to her gentlewomen. "Her attendants, in order to learn their mistress's will, watched the motion of her eyes, the bends or "movements of which added new lustre to her beauty." Rigg is an ancient word meaning a strumpet.

1

Sooth

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My motion', I have it not in my tongue: But yet 5
Hie you again to Ægypt.

Ant. Say to me,

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine?
Sooth. Cæsar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant. Speak this no more.

10

Omnes. The music, ho!

Enter Murdian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: come,
Charmian.

Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd,
As with a woman:-come, you'll play with me,
Mar. As well as I can, madam.
[sir?
Cleo. And when good will is shew'd, though it
come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:-
Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there,
My musick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes: my bended hook shall pierce
15 Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ah, ha! you're caught.
Char. 'Twas merry, when

[to thee.
Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens, 20
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Ant. Get thee gone:

Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him :
[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him:
And, in our sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds:
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails' ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,|
Enter Ventidius.

I'the east my pleasure lies.-O, come, Ventidius,
You must to Parthia; your commission's ready:
Follow me, and receive it.
[Exeunt.

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Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. 'Till I shall see you in your soldiers' dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.
Mec. We shall,

As I conceive the journey, be at mount'
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your stay is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.
Both. Sir, good success!

Lep. Farewell.

The Palace in Alexandria.

SCENE V.

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time-O times!

I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
25 Ere the ninth hour, I drank him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan. O! from Italy;-
Enter a Messenger.

Ram' thou fruitful tidings in mine ears,
30 That long time have been barren.
Mes. Madam, madam,-

Cleo. Antony's dead?—

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:
But well and free,

35 If so thou yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand, that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

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Mes. First, madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah,
mark; we use

To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mes. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo. Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free, and healthful,-so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with
50 Not like a formal man.
[snakes,
Mes. Will't please you hear me? [speak'st:
Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou
Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,
[Exeunt. 55 I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee'.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me some musick; musick, moody" Of us that trade in love.

Mes. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well said.

[food 60

Mes. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo. Thou art an honest man.

1i. e. the divinitory agitation. i. e. a fearful thing.-A fear was a personage in some of the old moralities. The antients used to match quails as we match cocks.

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(as Sir T. Hanmer observes) Rain thou, &c. which agrees better with the epithets fruitful and barren. i. e. like a man in form or shape. 'i. e. I will give thee a kingdom; it being the castern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder thein with gold-dust and seed-pearl.

Mes. Cæsar and he are greater friends than
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mes. But yet, madam,-

[ever.

Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fye upon but yet:
But yet is as a jailer to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friends with
Cæsar;

In state of health, thou say'st; and thou say'st, free.
Mes. Free,madam! no; I made no such report:
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mes. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mes. Madam, he's married to Octavia.
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
[Strikes him down.

Mes. Should I lyc, madam?
Cleo. O, I would, thou didst;

So half my Egypt were submerg'd', and made
A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence;
5 Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mes. I crave your highness' pardon.
Cleo. He is married?

[you:
Mes. Take no offence, that I would not offend
10To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.
Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of
thee,
[hence:
Thou art not what thou'rt sure of?!- -Get thee
15 The merchandise, which thou hast brought from
Rome,

20

Mes. Good madam, patience.
Cleo. What say you-Hence,[Strikeshimagain.
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;
[She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, 25
Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mes. Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunesproud: the blow, thou hadst, 30
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage:
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mes. He's married, madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

[Draws a dagger.

Mes. Nay, then I'll run:-
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

[Exit.

sar.

Are all too dear for me; Lye they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em! [Exit Messenger.
Char. Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæ-
Char. Many times, madam.

I

Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence,
faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter:-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas: bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.-
[Exit Alexas.

Let him for ever go :-Let him not,-Charmian;
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
The other way he is a Mars:-Bid you Alexas
[To Mardian.

Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-
mian,

35 But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt.

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hither, sir.

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.-Come
Re-enter the Messenger.
Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mes. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

Mes. He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold

there still?

45

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That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;

Which if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
50 And carry back to Sicily much tall youth,
That else must perish here.

Pomp. To you all three,

The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
55 Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son, and friends; since Julius Cæsar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
There saw you labouring for himn.
What was it,
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and

60 What made all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,
Withthe arm'd rest, courtiersof beauteousfreedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would

1 Submerg'd is whelm'd under water. 2 i. e. Thou art an honest man, of which thou art thyself assured; but thou art in my opinion a knave by thy master's fault alone.

i. e. Antony.

i. e. the beauty.

Have

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Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

Cæs. And what may follow,

To try a larger fortune.

Pomp. You have made me offer

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the sea of pirates: then, to send

Measures of wheat to Rome: This 'greed upon,

To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targe undinted.

Omnes. That's our offer.

Pomp. Know then,

I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience: though I lose
The praise of it by telling; you must know,
When Cæsar and your brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey;

And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pomp. Let me have your hand:

I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

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10

Ant. Thebeds i'the east are soft; andthankstoyou That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither; For I have gain'd by it.

Cas. Since I saw you last,

There is a change upon you.
Pomp. Well, I know not,

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face2;
But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her vassal.

Lep. Well met here.

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Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar 3 in a mattress.
Pomp. I know thee now; How far'st thou, sol-
Eno. Well;

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feasts are toward.

Pomp. Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, 15 When I have envied thy behaviour. Eno. Sir,

[dier?

I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, When you have well deserv'd ten times as much As I have said you did.

20 Pomp. Enjoy thy plainness,

Pomp. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed:

I crave, our composition may be written,

And seal'd between us.

Cas. That's the next to do.

It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you all : Will you lead, lords?

All. Shew us the way, sir.

25 Pomp. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Eno. andMenas. Men. [Aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.

30

You and I have known, sir.

Eno. At sea, I think.

Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.
Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by 35 land.

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50

Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: You have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land.

Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are.

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

Men. No slander; they steal hearts.

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away

his fortune.

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again.

Men. You have said, sir. We look'd not for [us 55 Mark Antony here: Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

Pomp. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let

Draw lots, who shall begin.

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

Pomp. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first,

Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

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Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæsar

Grew fat with feasting there.

2

Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Mar

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i. e. affright us. A metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetick. 3i. e. to Julius Cæsar.

Men.

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