Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway "Twixt these extremes at all. Ant. Gentle Octavia, Let your best love draw to that point which seeks I lose myself: better I were not yours, Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Shall stain your brother: So your Octa. Thanks to my lord. The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be; As if the world should cleave, and that slain men Should solder up the rift. Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, Can equally move with them. Provide your going; SCENE V.-The same. Another Room in the same. Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting. Eno. How now, friend Eros? Eros. There's strange news come, sir. Eno. What, man? Eros. Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey. Eno. This is old: What is the success? Eros. Cæsar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let him partake in the glory of the action: and not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: So the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine. Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more; And throw between them all the food thou hast, They '11 grind the one the other. Where 's Antony? Eros. He's walking in the garden- thus; and spurns The rush that lies before him; cries, "Fool, Lepidus!" And threats the throat of that his officer, That murder'd Pompey. Eno. Our great navy 's rigged. Eros. For Italy, and Cæsar. More, Domitius; My lord desires you presently: my news I might have told hereafter. Eno. "T will be nought: [Exeunt. But let it be,-Bring me to Antony. Eros. Come, sir. SCENE VI.-Rome. A Room in Cæsar's House. Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS. Cas. Contemning Rome, he has done all this: And more; In Alexandria-here 's the manner of it,- Absolute queen. Mec. This in the public eye? Cas. I' the common show-place, where they exer cise. His sons he there proclaim'd, The kings of kings: He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd In the habiliments of the goddess Isis That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, Mec. Let Rome be thus inform'd. Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence already, Will their good thoughts call from him. Cæs. The people know it; and have now receiv'd His accusations. Agr. Whom does he accuse? Cæs. Cæsar: and that, having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd. Caes. "T is done already, and the messenger gone. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abus'd, And did deserve his change; for what I have conquer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I Demand the like. Mec. He'll never yield to that. Cæs. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter OCTAVIA. Octa. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar! Cæs. That ever I should call thee, cast-away! Octa. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. VOL. X. S Caes. Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony Octa. Cæs. Which soon he granted, Being an abstract 'tween his lust and him. Octa. Do not say so, my lord. Cæs. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Where is he now ? Octa. My lord, in Athens. Cæs. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore; who now are levying The kings o' the earth for war: He hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas: Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas, Octa. Cæs. Nothing more dear to me. Welcome to Rome: You are abus'd Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart,in Rome does love and pity you. In his abominations, turns you off; And gives his potent regiment to a trull, Cæs. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-Antony's Camp, near to the Promontory of Actium. Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. a Regiment-government, authority. |