5 Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Cæsar, 10 Cas. I wrote to you, When rioting in Alexandria; you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted; then Cas. 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' is sacred which he talks on now, Supposing that I lack'd it :-But on, Cæsar;The article of my oath, Cas. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them; The which you both deny'd. And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up Το stoop in such a case. Lep. "Tis nobly spoken. [ther Mec. If it might please you to enforce no furThe griefs between you: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you. Lep. Worthily spoken, Mecanas. Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone ‘. O' the world I would pursue it. Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, Cas. Say not so, Agrippa; 15 If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserv'd of rashness. Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear Agrippa further speak. Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, 20 To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men ; Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak 25 That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing, truths would be tales, Where now half tales be truths: her love to both 30 Would each to other, and all loves to both, Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated. 135 40 Ant. Will Cæsar speak? Cas. Not 'till he hears how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already. Ant. What power is in Agrippa, If I would say, Agrippa, be it so, Cas. The power of Cæsar, and Ant. May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shews, Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: 45 Further this act of grace; and, from this hour, The heart of brothers govern in our loves, And sway our great designs! Cas. There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother 50 Did ever love so dearly: Let her live To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again! Lep. Happily! Amen! 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 55 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. [no more. 60 Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak 1i. e. opposed. [Pompey; Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst 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, 3 Mean 2 i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his last audience. ing, the religion of an oath. * i. e. “I will henceforth seem senseless as a stone, however I may ●bserve and consider your words and actions.” Ant. Where lies he? Cas. About the mount Misenam. Ant. What is his strength by land? Cas. Great and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master. Ant. So is the fame. 'Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for't:| Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of. Cas. With most gladness; And do invite you to my sister's view,. Ant. Let us, Lepidus, Not sickness should detain me. [Flourish. Exeunt Cæsar, Antony, and Lepidus. Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir. Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecænas!— 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? 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. 25 (30 Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she purs'd up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. Agr. There she appear'd indeed; or my reporter 35 Devis'd well for her. Eno. I will tell you: The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burnt on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfum'd, that The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were silver; 40 Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made Agr. O, 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 tackles 155 Eno. I saw her once Hop forty paces through the publick street: And, breathless, power breathe forth. Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle Agr. Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest,' Whilst you abide here. Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter Casar, Antony, Octavia between them; Attendants, and a Soothsayer. Ant. The world, and my great office, will sometimes Divide me from your bosom. Octa. All which time, Ant. Good night, sir.-My Octavia, Cas. Good night. [Exeunt Cæsar, and Octavia. Ant. Now, sirrah! you do wish yourself in Ægypt? 1i. e. if report quadrates with her, or suits with her merits. 2 Mr. Tollet thinks bends or bands is the same word, and means in this place the several companies of Nereïds that waited on Cleopatra: while Mr. Malone apprehends, their bends refers to Cleopatra's eyes, and not to her gentlewomen. "Her attendants, in order to learn their mistress's will, watched the motion of her eyes, the bends or "movements of which added new lustre to her beauty." Rigg is an ancient word meaning a strumpet. 1 Sooth My motion', I have it not in my tongue: But yet 5 Ant. Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine? Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Ant. Speak this no more. 10 Omnes. The music, ho! Enter Murdian. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: come, Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:- [to thee. Ant. Get thee gone: Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him : I'the east my pleasure lies.-O, come, Ventidius, Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. Lep. 'Till I shall see you in your soldiers' dress, As I conceive the journey, be at mount' Lep. Your stay is shorter, My purposes do draw me much about; Lep. Farewell. The Palace in Alexandria. SCENE V. You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time-O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night Ram' thou fruitful tidings in mine ears, Cleo. Antony's dead?— If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: 35 If so thou yield him, there is gold, and here [40] Mes. First, madam, he is well. Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, To say, the dead are well: bring it to that, Mes. Good madam, hear me. But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me some musick; musick, moody" Of us that trade in love. Mes. Madam, he's well. Cleo. Well said. [food 60 Mes. And friends with Cæsar. 1i. e. the divinitory agitation. i. e. a fearful thing.-A fear was a personage in some of the old moralities. The antients used to match quails as we match cocks. (as Sir T. Hanmer observes) Rain thou, &c. which agrees better with the epithets fruitful and barren. i. e. like a man in form or shape. 'i. e. I will give thee a kingdom; it being the castern ceremony, at the coronation of their kings, to powder thein with gold-dust and seed-pearl. Mes. Cæsar and he are greater friends than [ever. Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay The good and bad together: He's friends with In state of health, thou say'st; and thou say'st, free. Cleo. For what good turn? Mes. For the best turn i' the bed. Cleo. I am pale, Charmian. Mes. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Mes. Should I lyc, madam? So half my Egypt were submerg'd', and made [you: 20 Mes. Good madam, patience. Mes. Gracious madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. Mes. He's married, madam. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long. [Draws a dagger. Mes. Nay, then I'll run:- [Exit. sar. Are all too dear for me; Lye they upon thy hand, I Cleo. I am paid for it now. Lead me from hence, Let him for ever go :-Let him not,-Charmian; Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Char- 35 But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt. hither, sir. These hands do lack nobility, that they strike To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message Mes. I have done my duty. Cleo. Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do, If thou again say, Yes. Mes. He is married, madam. Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? 45 That first we come to words; and therefore have we Which if thou hast consider'd, let us know Pomp. To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, 60 What made all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus, 1 Submerg'd is whelm'd under water. 2 i. e. Thou art an honest man, of which thou art thyself assured; but thou art in my opinion a knave by thy master's fault alone. i. e. Antony. i. e. the beauty. Have Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd. Cæs. And what may follow, To try a larger fortune. Pomp. 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 Omnes. That's our offer. Pomp. Know then, I came before you here, a man prepar'd Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks, Pomp. Let me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here. 5 10 Ant. Thebeds i'the east are soft; andthankstoyou That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither; For I have gain'd by it. Cas. Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you. What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face2; Lep. Well met here. Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar 3 in a mattress. And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Pomp. Let me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, 15 When I have envied thy behaviour. Eno. Sir, [dier? I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, When you have well deserv'd ten times as much As I have said you did. 20 Pomp. Enjoy thy plainness, Pomp. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed: I crave, our composition may be written, And seal'd between us. Cas. That's the next to do. It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all : Will you lead, lords? All. Shew us the way, sir. 25 Pomp. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Eno. andMenas. Men. [Aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty. 30 You and I have known, sir. Eno. At sea, I think. Men. We have, sir. Eno. You have done well by water. Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by 35 land. 45 50 Men. Nor what I have done by water. Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: You have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land. Eno. There I deny my land service. But give 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 turn'd 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 look'd not for [us 55 Mark Antony here: Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? Pomp. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let Draw lots, who shall begin. Ant. That will I, Pompey. Pomp. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first, Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery 60 Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæsar Grew fat with feasting there. 2 Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia. Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Mar i. e. affright us. A metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetick. 3i. e. to Julius Cæsar. Men. |