Which fronted mine own peace. As for As for my wife, Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, But say, I wrote to you, Ant. Sir, He fell upon me, ere admitted: then Out of our question wipe him. Cæs. 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's sacred which he talks on now, Supposing that I lack'd it. The article of my oath. But on, Cæsar; Cæs. To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them, The which you both denied. Neglected, rather; Ant. I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty Lep. Tis noble spoken. Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no farther Lep. Worthily spoken, 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 stone3. Cæs. 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. Caes. Speak, Agrippa. Give me leave, Cæsar, Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, to ATONE you.] i. e. reconcile you. See Vol. vi. p. 240. 589, &c. your considerate stone.] It may be a question, whether Enobarbus means to call Antony "a considerate stone," or to say merely that he will be silent as a stone. If the former, we must, with Johnson, change "your" of the folios to you; but the latter affords a clear meaning without any alteration of the ancient text. Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony Cæs. Say not so, Agrippa: If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserv'd of rashness'. Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa farther speak. Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, By duty ruminated. Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Cæs. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already. * Were well deserv'd of rashness.] There are several misprints in this short speech, as it stands in prose in the folio, 1623, viz." Say not, say Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your proof were well deserved of rashness." Of these modern editors take no notice, but silently change say to "so," and proof to "reproof," as if such were the ancient text. Theobald recommended approof instead of proof; but Hanmer's correction of "reproof" seems much preferable: the meaning then is, "your reproof were well deserved on account of rashness." The later folios do not vary from the first, excepting in the proper mode of spelling the name of Cleopatra. VOL. VIII. D Ant. May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Cæs. There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never Lep. Happily, amen. Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pom pey; 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. Cæs. Great, and increasing; but by sea He is an absolute master. Ant. So is the fame. Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it ; Cæs. And do invite you to my sister's view, Whither straight I'll lead you. With most gladness; Let us, Lepidus, Noble Antony, [Flourish. Exeunt CESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir. Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas !——— my honourable friend, Agrippa!— Agr. Good Enobarbus! Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You stay'd 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. Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her. 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; As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 10 TO GLOW the delicate cheeks] All the folios read, "To glove," &c. |