The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

Mess. Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.
Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.
But yet, madam-
Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence ;3 fie upon but yet:
But yet is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.

The good and bad together: He's friend' with
Cæsar;

In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say'st, free.
Mess. Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
He's bound unto Octavia.
Cleo.
For what good turn?
Mess. For the best turn i'the bed.
Cleo.
I am pale, Charmian.
Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia.
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
brine,

Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Mess.

Gracious madam,
I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
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.

O, I would, thou didst
So half my Egypt were submerg'd,5 and made
A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence;
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst 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. O, that his faults 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

Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo.

Lead me from hence.

I am paid for't now.

years,

I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-'Tis no matter :—-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the features of Octavia, her
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.---
[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

Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me, Char-
[To Mardian.

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 and trumpet: at another, Cæsar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mæcenas, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your-And we shall talk before we fight. self;

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-
bolt.-

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

Most meet,

Cœs.
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which if thou hast considered, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall? youth
That else must perish here.
Pom.

To you all three,

Cleo. I will not hurt him:-The senators alone of this great world, These hands do lack nobility, that they strike Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know, A meaner than myself; since I myself Wherefore my father should revengers want, Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, sir. Having a son, and friends; since Julius Cæsar,

(1) So sour a countenance. (2) A man in his senses.

(3) Preceding,

(4) Recompense. (5) Whelmed under water
(6) Beauty.
(7) Brave.

Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
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.
Take your time.

Cœs.

Ant. Thou can'st not fear2 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: But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thou may'st. Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the present,3) how you take The offers we have sent you. Cas. There's the point. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

Let me have your hand : I did not think, sir, to have met here. you Ant. The beds i'the east are soft; and thanks

to you, That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither; For I have gain'd by it. Cœs.

Since I saw you last, There is a change upon you.

Pom. Well, I know not What counts5 harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come, To make my heart her vassal.

Lep.

Well met here.

Enjoy thy plainness,
It nothing ill becomes thee.-
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?

Cæs. Ant. Lep. Show us the way, sir.
Pom.

Come.

[Exeunt Pompey, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.-[Aside.]-You and I have known,6 sir.

Eno. At sea, I think.

Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by land

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 turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this way 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 more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the band that seems to tie their friendship together,

(5) Scores, marks.

(6) Been acquainted.

will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia|| is of holy, cold, and still conversation.

Men. Who would not have his wife so? Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cæsar; and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity, shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is; he married but his occasion here.

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

Men. Come; let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-On board Pompey's galley, lying near Misenum. Music. Enter two or three Servants, with a banquet.2

1 Serv. Here they'll be, man: Some o'their plants are ill-rooted already, the least wind i'the world will blow them down.

2 Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured.

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out, no more, reconciles them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.

2 Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service, as a partizan1 I could not heave. 1 Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. A sennet sounded. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Mæcenas, Enobarbus, Menas, with other captains.

Ant. Thus do they, sir: [To Cæsar.] They take
the flow o'the Nile

By certain scales i'the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean,5 if dearth,
Or foizon,6 follow: The higher Nilus swells,
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.

Lep. You have strange serpents there.
Ant. Ay, Lepidus.

Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud, by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

Ant. They are so.

Pom. Sit, and some wine.-A health to Lepidus.
Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er

out.

Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises? are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word. [Aside Pom. Say in mine ear: What is't? Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, [Aside. Forbear me till anon,

And hear me speak a word.
Pom.

This wine for Lepidus.

Lep. What manner o'thing is your crocodile?

(1) Behaviour. (2) Dessert.

(4) Pike.

(5) Middle.

(7) Pyramids,

(3) Feet.

(6) Plenty.

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.
Cæs. 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.

[Aside. I think, thou'rt mad. The matter? [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:
Is thine,
Whate'er the ocean pales,8 or sky inclips,9
thou wilt have't.

Pom.
Show me which way.
Men. These three world-sharers, these competi
tors, 10

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 villany;
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, Pompey.

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas.

Enobarbus, welcome.

Men.
Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid.
Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
[Pointing to the attendant who carries off Lepidus.
Why?
He bears
The third part of the world, man; See'st not?
Men. The third part then is drunk: 'Would it
were all,

Men.
Eno.

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

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 music :-
The while, I'll place you: Then the boy shall sing;
The holdings every man shall bear, as loud
As his strong sides can volley.

[Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand
in hand,
SONG.

Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne 4
In thy vats our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, till the world,
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 Eno

barbe

Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks; the wild disguise hath almost

Antic'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.

Good Antony, your hand.
Pom.

Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Make me revenger.-Bear the king's son's body
Before our army:-Thy Pacorus, Orodes,5
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
Noble Ventidius,

Sil.
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither

The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and
Put garlands on thy head.
Ven.
O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this, Silius
Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire
Too high a fame, when him we serve's away.
Cæsar, and Antony, have ever won
More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i'the wars more than his captain can,
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,
Than gain, which darkens him.

I could do more to do Antonius good,
But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.

Sil.
Thou hast, Ventidius,
That without which a soldier, and his sword,
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to An-
tony?

That magical word of war, we have effected;
Ven. I'll humbly signify what in his name,
How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
We have jaded out o'the field.

what haste

Sil. Where is he now? Ven. He purposeth to Athens: whither with The weight we must convey with us will permit, We shall appear before him.-On, there; pass along. [Exeunt.

I'll try you o'the shore. SCENE II.-Rome. An ante-chamber in CæAnt. And shall, sir: give's your hand. Enter Agrippa, and Enobarbus, Pom.

O, Antony,

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

sar's house. meeting.

Agr. What, are the brothers parted?
Eno. They have despatch'd with Pompey, he is
gone;

The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
To part from Rome: Cæsar is sad; and Lepidus,
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the green sickness.
Agr.
'Tis a noble Lepidus.
Eno. A very fine one: O, how he loves Cæsar!
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark An-
tony!

Eno. Cæsar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Agr. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
Eno. Spake you of Caesar? How? the nonpareil!
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird !6'
Eno. Would you praise Cæsar, say,-Cæsar;-
go no further.

Agr. Indeed, he ply'd them both with excellent praises.

Eno. But he loves Cæsar best ;-Yet he loves Antony :

Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets,

cannot

Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho, his love

(5) Pacorus was the son of Orodes, king of Parthia. (6) The phoenix.

To Antony. But as for Cæsar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.

Agr.

Both he loves.
Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle.
So,-
[Trumpets.

This is to horse.-Adieu, noble Agrippa.
Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.
Enter Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.
Ant. No further, sir.

Caes. You take from me a great part of myself;
Use me well in it.-Sister, prove such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest
band2

Shall pass on thy approof.-Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue,3 which is set
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram, to batter
The fortress of it: for better might we
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.
Ant.

In your distrust.
Cæs.
Ant.

Make me not offended

I have said.

You shall not find, Though you be therein curious,4 the least cause For what you seem to fear: So, the gods keep you, And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends! We will here part.

Cas. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well; The elements be kind to thee, and make Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.

Octa. My noble brother!—

Ant. The April's in her eyes: It is love's spring, And these the showers to bring it on.-Be cheerful. Octa. Sir, look well to my husband's house; andCœs. Octavia?

Octa. I'll tell you in your ear.

What,

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor

can

Her heart inform her tongue: the swan's down feather,

That stands upon the swell at full of tide,
And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Cæsar weep? [Aside to Agrippa.
Agr.

He has a cloud in's face. Eno. He were the worse for that, were he a horse; So is he, being a man. Agr.

Why, Enobarbus? When Antony found Julius Cæsar dead, He cried almost to roaring: and he wept, When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum;

What willingly he did confound, he wail'd:
Believe it, till I weep too.

Cœs.
No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from mé still; the time shall not
Out-go my thinking on you.

Ant.
Come, sir, come;
I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love :
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.

Adieu; be happy!

Cæs. Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light To thy fair way!

Cæs.

Ant.

(1) Wings. (4) Scrupulous.

Farewell, farewell!

[Kisses Octavia. Farewell. [Trumpets sound. Exeunt.

(2) Bond.
(3) Octavia.
(5) Of air and water.

I look'd her in the face; and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
Mess.

She is not, madam. Cleo. Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd, or low?

Mess. Madam, I heard her speak; she is lowvoic'd.

Clea. That's not so good:-he cannot like her long.
Char. Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.
Cleo. I think so, Charmian: Dull of tongue, and
dwarfish!-

What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Mess.
She creeps;
Her motion and her station? are as one:
She shows a body rather than a life;
A statue, than a breather.
Cleo.
Is this certain ?
Mess. Or I have no observance.
Char.

Cannot make better note.
Cleo.

Three in Egypt

He's very knowing,

I do perceive't:-There's nothing in her yet:The fellow has good judgment.

Char.

Excellent.

Madam,

Widow?-Charmian, hark.

Mess. And I do think, she's thirty.

Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is it long,

or round?

Mess. Round even to faultiness.

Cleo. For the most part too, They are foolish that are so.-Her hair, what colour? Mess. Brown, madam : And her forehead is as low As she would wish it.

Cleo. There is gold for thee. Thou must not take my former sharpness ill: I will employ thee back again; I find thee Most fit for business: Go, make thee ready; Our letters are prepar❜d. [Exit Messenger. Char. A proper man. Cleo. Indeed, he is so: I repent me much, That so I harry'd him. Why, methinks, by him, This creature's no such thing.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Accurately Printed from ..., Volumen2