Mec. Let Rome be thus Inform'd, Agrip. Who, queasy with his insolence Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Oct. The people know it; and have now receiv'd His accusations. Agrip. Whom does he accuse? Oct. Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain Agrip. Sir, this should be answer'd. Oct. '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. quer'd, For what I have con I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, Demand the like. Mec. He'll never yield to that. Oct. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia, attended. Octav. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar! Oct. That ever I should call thee castaway! Octav. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. Oct. Why hast thou stol'n upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony E Should have borne men; and expectation fainted, Octav. Good my lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Oct. Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. Oct. I have eyes upon him, lord. And his affairs come to me on the wind: Where, say you, he is now? Octav. My lord, in Athens. Oct. No, my wrong'd sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. Octav. Ah me, most wretched! That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, Oct. Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome: Of us, and those that love you. Be of comfort; Agrip. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: And gives his potent regiment to a trull, Octav. Is it so, sir? Oct. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you now, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister! ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. [Exeunt. Near Actium. Antony's Camp. Enter CLEOPATRA and Enobarbus. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Enob. But why, why, why? Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these wars? And say'st, it is not fit. Enob. Well, is it, is it? Cleo. Is't not denounc'd 'gainst us? Why should not we Be there in person? Enob. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the war, Enob. Nay, I have done. Here comes the emperor. Enter Antony and Canidius. Ant. Is't not strange, Canidius, 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, Which might have well becom'd the best of men, Will fight with him by sea, Cleo. By sea! What else? Canid. Why will my lord do so? Ant. For that he dares us to't. Enob. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Canid. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: But these offers, Which serve not for his 'vantage, he shakes off; And so should you. Enob. Your ships are not well mann'd : Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Ant. By sea, by sea. Enob. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security. Ant. I'll fight at sea. Cleo. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. Our overplus pf shipping will we burn; And,with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, Enter an Attendant. We then can do't at land.—Thy business? Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; Enter Diomede. Away, my Thetis.—How now, worthy soldier? tians, |