Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against The stale of horses and the gilded puddle Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, So much as lank'd not. Lep. 'Tis pity of him. Cas. Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end Thrives in our idleness. Lep. To-morrow, Cæsar, I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly To front this present time. Cas. Till which encounter, It is my business too. Farewell. Lep. Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, To let me be partaker. Cas. Doubt not, sir; I knew it for my bond. [Exeunt. SCENE V Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian. Cleo. That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away. Char. You think of him too much. Cleo. O, 'tis treason! Madam, I trust, not so. Cleo. Thou, eunuch Mardian ! What's your highness' pleasure ? Cleo. Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has: 'tis well for thee, That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections ? Mar. Yes, gracious madam. Cleo. Indeed! Mar. Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing Yet have I fierce affections, and think What Venus did with Mars. Cleo. O Charmian, Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he? Or does he walk? or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! : Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou movest? The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. He's speaking now, With most delicious poison. Think on me, Enter Alexas. Alex. Sovereign of Egypt, hail! Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen, He kiss'd-the last of many doubled kisses— This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart. Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence. Alex. 'Good friend,' quoth he, 'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends Cleo. What, was he sad or merry? Alex. Like to the time o' the year between the extremes Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him: So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts? Cleo. Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony, Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, My man of men. Char. By your most gracious pardon, My salad days, I sing but after you. Cleo. When I was green in judgement: cold in blood, To say as I said then! But come, away; Get me ink and paper: He shall have every day a several greeting, Or I'll unpeople Egypt. [Exeunt. ACT II-SCENE I Messina. Pompey's house. Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner. Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. The thing we sue for. Mene. We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers. Pom. I shall do well: The people love me, and the sea is mine; No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money where Of both is flatter'd, but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Men. Cæsar and Lepidus Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry. Pom. Where have you this? 'tis false. From Silvius, sir. Enter Varrius. How now, Varrius ! Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver : Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis A space for farther travel. Pom. I could have given less matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm For such a petty war: his soldiership Men. Not moved by Antony. Pom. I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. To draw their swords: but how the fear of us Come, Menas. [Exeunt. SCENE II Rome. The house of Lepidus. Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, To soft and gentle speech. Eno. I shall entreat him To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him, I would not shave't to-day. Lep. For private stomaching. Eno. 'Tis not a time Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in 't. Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first. Lep. Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes |