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Is now a widower.

Cas.

Say not so, Agrippa; 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,
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
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dan-
gers,

Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
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.

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, To make this good?

Cas.

The power of Cæsar, and

His power unto Octavia. Ant.

May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand:
Further this act of grace; and, from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And sway our great designs!

Cæs.

There is my hand. A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother Did ever love so dearly: Let her live To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again! Happily, amen!

Lep.

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst
Pompey;

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 :

And where lies he?

of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.
Ant.

Cas. About the mount Misenum.
Ant.

By land?

What's his strength Great, and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master.

Cas.

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Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt Cæs. Ant. and Lep. Mac. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mæcenas! -my honourable friend, Agrippa!.. Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mac. 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.

Mac. 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 nothing.

Mac. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.'

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydmus. Agr. There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her."

Eno. I will tell you:

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that

The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were silver;

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we see

The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.2

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 tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.

Agr.

Rare Egyptian!
Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,

It should be better, he became her guest;
Which she entreated: Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast;
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,
For what his eyes eat only.
Agr.

Royal wench!
She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed;
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.

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Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in Cæsar's house. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Octavia between them; Attendants, and a Soothsayer.

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Mæc.

We shall,

As I conceive the journey, be at mounts
Before you, Lepidus.
Lep.
Your way is shorter,
My purposes do draw me much about;

Ant. The world, and my great office, will some- You'll win two days upon me.

times

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thee.

If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But he away, 'tis noble.

Ant.
Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him:
[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia.-Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken true: The very dice obey him;
And, in our sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds:
His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails3 ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter Ventidius.

I' the east my pleasure lies :-0, come, Ventidius,

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Mac. Agr. Lep. Farewell.

Sir, good success! [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Alexandria. A room in the palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food Of us that trade in love. Attend. The music, ho!

Enter Mardian.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards: Come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman: -Come, you'll play with me, sir? Mar. As well as I can, madam.

Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though it come too short,

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:-
Give me mine angle,-We'll to the river: there,
My music playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ah, ha! you're caught.
Char.
'Twas merry, when
You wager'd on your angling, when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo.

That time!-0 times!-
I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires" and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan. O! from Italy;
Enter a Messenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mess.

Cleo. Antony's dead?

Madam, madam,—

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:
But well and free,

If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand, that kings
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

Mess.
First, madam, he's well.
Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah,
mark; We use

To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,
The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

Mess. Good madam, hear me.

(4) Inclosed.
(6) Melancholy.

(5) Mount Misenum.

(7) Head-dress,

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Mess.
Cleo.

Madam, he's well.

Well said.
Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.
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; fie upon but yet:
But yet is a gaoler to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

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.

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Cleo.

O, I would, thou didst;
So half my Egypt were submerg'd, 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

I am paid for't now.

faint; O Iras, Charmian, 'Tis no matter :-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
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

[To Mardain. Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me Charmian,

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; Cas. Most meet, That first we come to words; and therefore have wa

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder-Our written purposes before us sent;

bolt.

Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
Turn all to servants!-Call the slave again;
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :-Call.
Char. He is afeard to come.
Cleo.
I will not hurt him
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.-Come hither, sir.

(1) So sour a countenance.

(2) A man in his senses. (3) Preceding.

VOL. II.

:

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,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods,-I do not know,
Wherefore my father should revengers want,
Having a son, and friends: since Julius Cæsar

(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.

Cæs.

Ant. Thou can'st not fear 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,")

how you take

The offers we have sent you.

There's the point.

Cæs.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

What it is worth embrac'd.

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And what may follow,

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

Our target undinted.

Cas. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.

Pom.

Know then,

I came before you here, a man prepar'd
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience :-Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæsar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant.
I have heard it, Pompey;
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,
Which I do owe you.

Pom.

Let me have your hand: I did not think, sir, to have met you here. 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.

Cas.

Since I saw you last,

There is a change upon you.

Pom.

Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;

But in my bosom shall she never come,

To make my heart her vassal.

Well met here.

Lep. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed: I crave, our composition may be written,

And seal'd between us.

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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 call'd 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.1

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.

[Exeunt.

Men. Come; let's away. 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 partizan 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 Caesar, 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, if dearth,
Or foizon, 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

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Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it has 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 this cup I call'd for?
Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool.
[Aside.
Pom.
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, I am the man

Although thou think me poor,
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 dars't be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,"
Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

8

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, should have found it afterwards well done; But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. Men. For this, [Aside.

I

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.

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

That it might go on wheels!

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.

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