The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark An- ' tony!

Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.-

How goes it with my brave Mark Antony ?
Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen,
He kiss'd, the last of many doubled kisses,—
This orient pearl.-His speech sticks in my heart.
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence.
Alex. Good friend, quoth he,

Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdoms; All the
east,

Say thou, shall call her mistress. So he nodded,
And soberly did mount a termagant steed,
Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumb'd by him.

Cleo. What, was he sad, or merry?

Alex. Like to the time o'the year between the

extremes

Of hot and cold; he was nor sad, nor merry.
Cleo. O well-divided disposition -Note him,
Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but
note him:

He was not sad; for he would shine on those
That make their looks by his he was not merry;
Which seem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy: but between both :
O heavenly mingle; Be'st thou sad, or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes;

So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts?
Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers:
Why do you send so thick?

Cleo. Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony,

Men. Cesar and Lepidus

Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry
Pom. Where have you this ? 'tis false.
Men. From Silvius, Sir.

Pom. He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,

Looking for Antony: But all charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd⚫ lip!
Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks,
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even till a Lethe'd dullness !-How now, Var-
rius ?

Enter VARRIUS.

Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver : Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis A space for further travel.

Pom. I could have given less matter

A better ear.-Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have don'd‡ his
For such a petty war: his soldiership [helm §
Is twice the other twain: But let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.

Men. I cannot hope,

Cesar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife, that's dead, did trespasses to Cesar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom. I know not, Menas,

How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, pregnant they should square between themselves;

Shall die a beggar.-Ink and paper, Charmian.-Twere
Welcome, my good Alexas.-Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Cesar so ?

ACT II.

house.

[Exeunt.

For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords; but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it! It only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.-Rome.-A Room in the house of
LEPIDUS.

Enter ENOBARBUS and Lepidus.

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your capTo soft and gentle speech.

Eno. I shall entreat him

To answer like himself: if Cesar move him,
Let Antony look over Cesar's head,
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

SCENE 1.-Messina.-A Room in POMPEY'S I would not shave to-day.

Lep. 'Tis not a time

For private stomaching.

Eno. Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

[taiu

It not concern'd me.

Ant. My being in Egypt, Cesar,

What was't to you?

Ces. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there
Did practise + on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.

Ant. How intend you, practis'd ↑

Ces. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine
intent,
[ther,
By what did here befal me. Your wife, and bro-
Made wars upon me; and their contestation
Was theme for you, you were the word of war.
Ant. You do mistake your business; my bro-
ther never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports,
That drew their swords with you. Did he
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,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.

Ces. You praise yourself

By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

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 grateful eyes attend those wars
Which 'fronted mine own peace. As for my

wife,

I would you had her spirit in such another:

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.

Ces. You have broken

The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep. Soft, Cesar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak:

The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cesar;
The article of my oath,-

Ces. To lend me arms and aid, when I re
quir'd them;

The which you both denied.

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 inine honour
To stoop in such a case.

Lep. 'Tis nobly spoken.

Mec. If it might please you to enforce no
further

The griefs + between ye, to forget them quite,
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone you.

Lep. Worthily spoke, 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.
Ces. 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, Cesar,

Ces. Speak, Agrippa.

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

Ces. Say not so, Agrippa;

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

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

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity,
To make you brothers, and to kuit your hearts

The third o'the world is yours; which, with a with an unslipping knot, take Antony

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 incurable, her garboils, Cesar,
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.

Ces. 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 upon me, ere admitted; then

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want

'Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we The business we have talk'd of.

Ces. 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.

And what they undid, did,

Agr. Oh, 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 tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible pérfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthrou'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.

hungry

Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
Bless her, when she's riggish. ||

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle

[Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, ANTONY, and The heart of Antony, Octavia is

Eno. I will tell you:

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

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

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 per-
son,

It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'erpicturing that Venus, where we see,
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'a fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
Suits with her merits.

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.

Sooth. Cesar's.

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cesar'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.

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.

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.

SCENE IV.-The same.-A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS. and AGRIPPA. Lep. Trouble yourselves no urther: pray you, hasten

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

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

Mess. First, madam, he's 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.

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

But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony
Be free, and healthful, why so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with
Not like a formal man.
[snakes,

Mess. Will't please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou speak'st:

Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well,
Or friends with Cesar, or not captive to him,
I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee.

Mess. Madam, he's well.
Cleo. Well said.

Mess. And friends with Cesar.
Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man.

Mess. Cesar and he are greater friends than

ever.

Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Mess. But yet, madain,-

Cleo. I do not like but yet; it does allay

The good precedence; fie upon but yet:
But yet is as 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 friend with
Cesar;
[free.

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

Cleo. For what good turn?

[food

Mess. For the best turn i'the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mar. As well as I can, madam.

Cleo. And when good will is show'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 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.

Char. 'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver

The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. + Inclosed. 1 Mount Misenum. Melancholy. Billiards were unknowu then.

Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

[port:

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 Smarting in ling'ring pickle. [brine, Mess. Gracious madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match. Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give [hadst

thee,

And make thy fortunes proud; the blow thou
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.

Mess. He's married, madam.
Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.
[Draws a Dagger.

Mess. Nay, then I'll run :-
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
[Exit.
Char. Good madam, keep yourself within
The man is innocent.
[yourself;
Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-
bolt.-

Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents I-Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call.
Char. He is afeard to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him :

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, Sir.
Re-enter MESSENGER.

Though it be honest, it is never good

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

Mess. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

Mess. He is married, madam.

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 Cesar,
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, t
There saw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the 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 burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Ces. 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'er-count thee.

Pom. At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house :

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,

there still?

Mess. Should I lie, madam ?

Cleo. Oh! I would thou didst ;

So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made

A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence ;
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou would'st appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess. I crave your highness' pardon.
Cleo. He is married?

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. Oh! that his fault should make a knave
of thee,

That art not!-What? thou'rt sure of 't?-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! [Exit MESSENGER.
Char. Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd
Cesar.

Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo. I am paid for't now.

Lead me from hence,

Remain in't as thou may'st.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

(For this is from the present, §) how you take The offers we have sent you.

Ces. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embrac'd.

Ces. And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune.

Pom. 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.

Ces. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.
Pom. Know then,

1 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 Cesar and your brothers 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.

Pom. Let me have your hand :

I did not think, Sir, to have met you here.
Ant. The beds i'the east are soft; and thanks
to you,

quick-That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither;
For I have gain'd by it.

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
ly.-
[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.

Ces. Since I saw you last,

There is a change upon you.

Pom. Well, I know not

What counts | harsh fortune casts upon my face: Bring me word how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-But in my bosom shall she never come, mian,

But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my cham

ber.

[Exeunt.

To make my heart her vassal.
Lep. Well met here.

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

I crave our composition may be written,
And seal'd between us.

Ces. That's the next to do.

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

let us

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 10