Eno.

I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the public 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. [Exeunt.

Octa. Good night, sir. Cæs. Good night.

[Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Egypt? Sooth. 'Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!

Ant. If you can, your reason?

Sooth. I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue: But yet hie you to Egypt again. 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 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.

Speak this no more.

Ant. Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

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
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit

Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Get thee gone:

Ant. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:[Erit 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 daw 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.

Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
Which will become you both, farewell.
Mec.
We shall,
As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount
Before you, Lepidus.

Lep.

Your way is shorter, My purposes do draw me much about; You'll win two days upon me.

Mec., Agr.
Lep. Farewell.

Sir, good success! [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter CLEOPATra, Charmian, Iras, and AlexAS,
Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food
Of us that trade in love.
Attend.

The music, ho!

Enter MARDian.

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, sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam.

Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though't come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:-
Give me mine angle,-we'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,

And say, Ah, ha! you're caught.

Cleo.

For what good turn?
Mess. For the best turn i' the bed.
Cleo.
I am pale, Charmian.
Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia.
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
[Strikes him down.

Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo.

What say you?—Hence, [Strikes him again. 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 whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,

Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mess.

Gracious madam,

Mess. Take no offence that I would not offend you:

To 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,

That art not what thou'rt sure of!-Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from
Rome

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

Cleo.

Lead me from hence;

I am paid for't now.

I 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,
T'other way he's a Mars :-Bid you Alexas

[To MARDIAN. Bring me word how tall she is.-Pity me, Charmian,

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

SCENE VI.-Near Misenum.

Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side, with drum and trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers marching.

Most meet

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. Cæs. 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't will tie up thy discontented sword; And carry back to Sicily much tall youth, That else must perish here.

Pom.

To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know 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 him. What was it That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what Made all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus, With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom, To drench the Capitol; but that they would Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome Cast on my noble father.

Cæs.

Take your time. Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails,

We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'ercount thee.

Pom. At land, indeed, Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou mayst.

Ant.

You have heard much. Pom. I have fair meanings, sir. Ant.

And fair words to them. Pom. Then so much have I heard:And I have heard, Apollodorus carried— Eno. No more of that :-He did so. Pom. What, I pray you? Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now: How far'st thou, soldier? Eno. Well; And well am like to do; for I perceive Four feasts are toward.

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 land.

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, whatso'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 turned 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 looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ?

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

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

Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

Men. Pray you, sir?

Eno. 'Tis true.

Men. Then is Cæsar and he for ever knit together.

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.

Men. I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.

Eno. I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.

Men. Who would not have his wife so?

Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he married but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come; let's away.

[Exeunt.