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Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,

Where Cafar's is not. But, near him, thy angel Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; and therefore

Make space' enough between you..

Ant. Speak this no more.

Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to thee..

If thou doft play with him at any game,

Thou'rt fure to lofe: and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Thy luftre thickens,
When he shines by : I fay 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 fpeak with him.

[Exit Sooth:

He fhall to Parthia ;—be it art, or hap,
He hath spoke 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 ftill of mine,

When it is all to nought: and his quails ever
Beat mine, in-hoop'd at odds. I will to Egypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' eaft my pleasure lies. Oh, come, Ventidius.

Enter Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your commission's ready:
Follow me and receive't.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther pray you, haften

Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kifs Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep.

Lep. 'Till I fhall fee your Soldiers' drefs,
Which will become you Both, farewel.
Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at th' mount
Before you, Lepidus,

Lep. Your way is fhorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.

Both. Sir, good fuccefs.

Lep. Farewel.

Cleo.

SCENE V.

Changes to the Palace in Alexandria.

[Exeunt.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.

IVE me fome mufic: mufic, moody food
Of us that trade in love-

G1

Of us that trade in love

Omnes. The mufic, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is fore, beft 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 fhew'd, tho't come too short,

The actor may plead pardon.

I'll none now.

Give me mine angle, we'll to th' river, there,
My mufic playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fish; my bended hook shall pierce
Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, ah, ha! you're caught.

Char.

Char. 'Twas merry, when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver ·
Did hang a falt fifh on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time!-oh times!.

I laught him our of patience, and that night
I laught him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed :
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilft
I wore his fword Philippan. Oh, from Italy;
Enter a Meffenger.

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

Mef. Madam! Madam!

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress:
But well and free,

that Kings

If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs: a hand,
Have lipt, and trembled kiffing.
Mef. Firft, Madam, he is well.
Cleo. Why, there's more gold.

we use

But, firrah, mark,

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

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.
Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodnefs in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful; why fo tart a favour
To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,

Thou fhould't come like a fury crown'd with fnakes,
Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will't please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee, ere thou fpeak'ft; Yet, if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him,

I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail
Rich pearls upon thee

Mef. Madam, he's well.

Cleo. Well faid.

Mef. And friends with Cafar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft man.

Mef. Cæfar and he, are greater friends than ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Mef. But yet, Madam

Clen. I do not like but yet, it does allay The good precedence; fie upon but yet:

But yet is as a jaylor to bring forth

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

The good and bad together: he's friends with Cafar,
In flate of health, thou fay'ft; and thou fay'ft, free.
Mef. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch report.
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mef. For the beft turn i' th' bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian

Mef. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee!

Mef. Good Madam, patience.

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him.

Cleo. What fay you?
Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[She hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipt with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingring pickle.

Mef. Gracious Madam,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow, thou had'st,
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot thee with what gift befide
Thy modefty can beg.

Mef.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long.

Mef. Nay, then I'll run:

[Draws a dagger.

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault. [Exit. Char. Good Madam, keep yourself with your

felf.

The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderboltMelt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures Turn all to ferpents! call the flave again ; Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call. Char. He is afraid to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him.

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than myfelf: fince I myfelf

Have given myself the cause.

Come hither, Sir.

Re-enter the Meffenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news; give to a gracious message
An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mef. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If you again fay, Yes.

Mef. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The Gods confound thee! doft thou hold

there ftill?

Mef. Should I lie, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would, thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made
A ciftern for fcal'd fnakes! go, get thee hence,
Hadft thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear moft ugly: he is married ?—
Mef. I crave your Highnefs' pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Mef.

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