I wrote to you, That which combin'd us was most great, and let not❘ When rioting in Alexandria; you May it be gently heard: When we debate 'Tis spoken well; Were we before our armies, and to fight, Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Sir, He fell upon me, ere admitted; then Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar; Or, being, concern you not. The article of my oath, Cæs. I must be laugh'd at, Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd If, or for nothing, or a little, I them; Should say myself offended; and with you Chiefly i' the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me. Ant. What was't to you? The which you both denied. Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome never Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it; And make the wars alike against my stomach, Ant. Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils?, Cæsar 7 Let not ill humour be added. Use bad arts or stratagems. 1 Opposed, 2 Commotions. Lep. Lep. 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 Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims By duty ruminated. Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Cas. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already. Ant. 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 8 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, The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were What power is in Agrippa, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made If I would say, Agrippa, be it so, Cæs. The power of Cæsar, and His power unto Octavia. 'Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for it : Ant. Not lack your company, Lep. Let us, Lepidus, Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me. It beggar'd all description: she did lie In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue,) She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed. Hop forty paces through the public street: And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, And, breathless, power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. [Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale LEPIDUS. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir. Her infinite variety: Other women Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecanas! Where most she satisfies. For vilest things - my honourable friend, Agrippa ! Agr. Good Enobarbus ! Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are so well digested. You staid 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? Ant. Say to me, Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Come, Charmian. Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. Come, you'll play with me, sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam. Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it come too short, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's, or mine? The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: — Ant. If thou dost play with him at any game, Ant. Get thee gone : 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 draw lots, he speeds: His cocks do win the battles 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. SCENE IV. - A Street. [Exeunt. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and Agrippa. Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you hasten Your generals after. The ancients used to match quails as we match cocks. * Inclosed. Give me mine angle,- We'll to the river: there, Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up. Cleo. That time! O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; Then put my tires 5 and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan. O! from Italy; Enter a Messenger. Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Cleo. Antony's dead? — Madam, madain, If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress : If thou so yield him, there is gold and here Mess. We use To say, the dead are well; bring it to that, Mess. Good madam, hear me. Well, go to, I will; But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony Be free and healthful, why so tart a favour 6 To trumpet such good tidings? If not well, Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man. 7 3 Mount Misenum. 4 Melancholy. 5 Head dress. 6 So sour a countenance. 7 A man in his senses. So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made Madam, he's well. Mess. And friends with Cæsar. Thou'rt an honest man. Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend, The good and bad together: He's friends with In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say'st free. I am pale, Charmian. Gracious madam, Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt. Re-enter Messenger. Though it be honest, it is never good : To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message Mess. Cleo. Is he married? Cleo. I faint; O Iras, Charmian,—'Tis no matter: — Bring me word, how tall she is.. mian, 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 Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; Cas. That first we come to words; and therefore have we Pom. I have done my duty. With the arm'd rest, courteous of beauteous freedom, I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say, Yes. 8 Recompense. 9 Brave. Know then, I came before you, here, a man prepar'd Ant. Pom. That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither, Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you. Pom. 5 Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come, To make my heart her vassal. Well met here. Lep. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.—Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written, And seal'd between us. That's the next to do. Cæs. Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let us Draw lots who shall begin. Ant. That will I, Pompey. Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first, Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæsar Grew fat with feasting there. Ant. Let me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behaviour. I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, Enjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee. all: Show us the way, sir. Come. Eno. There I deny my land service. me your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'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 called 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 You have heard much. more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Pom. I have fair meanings, sir. Ant. Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the And fair words to them. 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? |