Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife, that's dead, did trespasses to Cæsar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom.

I know not, Menas,

How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, "Twere pregnant they should square2 between themselves;

For they have entertained cause enough

up

To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it! It only stands
Our lives upon,3 to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

[Exeunt.*

SCENE II.

Rome. A Room in the House of Lepidus.

Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.

Eno.

I shall entreat him

square] That is, quarrel.

It only stands

Our lives upon, &c.] i. e. to exert our utmost force, is the only consequential way of securing our lives.

4 This play is not divided into Acts by the author or first editors, and therefore the present division may be altered at pleasure. I think the first Act may be commodiously continued to this place, and the second Act opened with the interview of the chief persons, and a change of the state of action. Yet it must be confessed, that it is of small importance, where these unconnected and desultory scenes are interrupted. JOHNSON.

To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him,
Let Antony look over Cæsar's head,

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
I would not shave to-day.'

Lep.

For private stomaching.

· Eno.

"Tis not a time

Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

Lep. But small to greater matters must give away.
Eno. Not if the small come first.

Lep.

Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes

The noble Antony.

Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.

Eno.

And yonder, Cæsar.

Enter CESAR, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA.

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: Hark you, Ventidius.

Cæs.

Mecænas; ask Agrippa.
Lep.

I do not know,

That which combin'd us

Noble friends,

was most great, and let not

A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
May it be gently heard: When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do cominit
Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,

5 Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

I would not shave to-day.] I believe he means, I would meet him undressed, without show of respect. JOHNSON.

6

If we compose well here,] i. e. if we come to a lucky composition, agreement.

Nor curstness grow to the matter."

Ant.

'Tis spoken well:

Were we before our armies, and to fight,

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Or, being, concern you not.

Cæs.

I must be laugh'd at, If, or for nothing, or a little, I

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?

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question."

Ant.

8

How intend you, practis'd? Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.1

* Nor curstness grow to the matter.] Let not ill-humour be added to the real subject of our difference.

8 Did practise on my state,] To practise means to employ unwarrantable arts or stratagems.

9

1

question.] i. e. My theme or subject of conversation.

their contestation

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.] Was theme for you, probably, means only, was proposed as an example for you to follow on a yet more extensive plan; as themes are given for a writer to dilate upon; but this is much contested.

Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports,2
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike
your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.

Cæs.

You praise yourself By laying defects of judgment to me; but You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.

Not so, not so;
I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
Which 'fronted mine own peace. As for
As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:1
The third o'the world is yours; which with a snaffle
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils, Cæsar, Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too.) I grieving grant, Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must But say, I could not help it.

2 true reports,] Reports for reporters..

3 'fronted-] i. e. opposed.

4 I would you had her spirit in such another:] Antony means to say, I wish you had the spirit of Fulvia, embodied in such another woman as her; I wish you were married to such another spirited woman; and then you would find, that though you can govern the third part of the world, the management of such a woman is not an easy matter,

VOL. VII.

DD

Cæs.

I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria; you

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
Ant.

Sir,

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Cæs.

The article of your oath;

You have broken

oath; which you shall never

Soft, Cæsar.

Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;

The honour's sacred' which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar;

The article of my oath,—

Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd

them;

The which you both denied.

Ant.

Neglected, rather;

5 I told him of myself;] i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his last audience..

The honour's sacred-] The meaning appears to be this:"Cæsar accuses Antony of a breach of honour in denying to send him aid when he required it, which was contrary to his oath. Antony says, in his defence, that he did not deny his aid, but, in the midst of dissipation, neglected to send it: that having now brought his forces to join him against Pompey, he had redeemed that error; and that therefore the honour which Cæsar talked of, was now sacred and inviolate, supposing that he had been somewhat deficient before, in the performance of that engagement."The adverb now refers to is, not to talks on; and the line should be pointed thus:

The honour's sacred that he talks on, now,
Supposing that I lack'd it. M. MASON.