Lep. What manner o'thing is your crocodile ?

Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs: it lives by that which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates. Lep. What colour is it of?

Ant. Of its own colour too.

Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.

Ant. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

Cas. Will this description satisfy him?

Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, else

he is a very epicure.

Pom. [To MENAS aside.] Go, hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away!

Do as I bid you.-Where's this cup I call'd for?
Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.

Pom. I think, thou'rt mad. The matter?

[Aside,

[Rises, and walks aside.

Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's

else to say?

Be jolly, lords.

Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus,

Keep off them, for you sink.

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

Pom. What say'st thou ?

Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's

twice.

Pom. How should that be?

Men. But entertain it, and,

Although thou think me poor, I am the man

Will give thee all the world.

Pom. Hast thou drunk well?

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove: Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Pom. Show me which way.

Men. These three-world sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel: Let me cut the cable; And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: All there is thine.

Pom. Ah, this thou should'st have done,

And not have spoke on't! In me, 'tis villainy;
In thee, it had been good service. Thou must know,
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
Mine honour, it. Repent, that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray'd thine act: Being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done;
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men. For this,

--

[Aside.

I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.-
Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall never find it more.

Pom. This health to Lepidus.

Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him, Pom

pey.

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.

Men. Enobarbus, welcome.

Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid.

Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.

[Pointing to the Attendant who carries off LEPIDUS.

Men. Why?

Eno. He bears

The third part of the world, man; See'st not?

Men. The third part then is drunk: 'Would it were all,

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

Men. Come.

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the vessels, ho! Here is to Cæsar.

Cas. I could well forbear it.

It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,

And it grows fouler.

Ant. Be a child o'the time.

Cas. Possess it, I'll make answer: but I had rather

fast

From all, four days, than drink so much in one.

Eno. Ha, my brave emperor!

[TO ANTONY.

Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,

And celebrate our drink?

Pom. Let's ha't, good soldier.

Ant. Come, let us all take hands;

Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe.

Eno. All take hands.

Make battery to our ears with the loud musick :

The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
The holding every man shall bear, as loud

As his strong sides can volley.

[Musick plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand.

SONG.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne :
In thy vats our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, till the world go round;
Cup us, till the world go round!

Cas. What would you more?-Pompey, good night.
Good brother,

Let me request you off: our graver business
Frowns at this levity.-Gentle lords, let's part;
You see, we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarbe
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good
night.-

Good Antony, your hand.

Pom. I'll try you o'the shore.

Ant. And shall, sir: give's your hand.

Pom. O, Antony,

You have my father's house,-But what? we are friends: Come, down into the boat.

[Exeunt POMPEY, CESAR, ANTONY, and Attendants.

Menas, I'll not on shore.

Men. No, to my cabin.

These drums !-these trumpets, flutes! what!

Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell

To these great fellows: Sound, and be hang'd, sound [A flourish of trumpets, with drums.

out.

Eno. Ho, says 'a!-There's my cap.

Men. Ho!-noble captain!

Come.

[Exeunt.