Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick: quick, and return. [Exit Alexas. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. In time we hate that which we often fear. But here comes Antony. Cleo. I'm sick and sullen. Enter ANTONY. Ant. I'm sorry to give breathing to my purpose,Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall: It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman ?-You may go: Would she had never given you leave to come! Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here, I have no power upon you; hers you are. Cleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! yet at the first I saw the treasons) planted. Ant. Cleopatra, Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine and true, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows Which break themselves in swearing! Ant. Most sweet queen, Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going, Eternity was in our lips and eyes, Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, Ant. How now, lady! Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know There were a heart in Egypt. Ant. Hear me, queen: The strong necessity of time commands Our services awhile; but my full heart Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome: Equality of two domestic powers Breeds scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength, Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness:-can Fulvia die? Ant. She's dead, my queen : Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read Cleo. Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come ; My precious queen, forbear; But let it be :-I'm quickly ill, and well, So Antony loves. Ant. And give true evidence to his love, (19) which stands An honourable trial. Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I prithee, turn aside, and weep for her; Ant. You'll heat my blood: no more. Ant. Now, by my(20) sword,— Cleo. And target. Still he mends; But this is not the best :-look, prithee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe. Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part,-but that's not it: Sir, you and I have lov'd,-but there's not it; And I am all forgotten. Ant. But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; And all the gods go with you! upon your sword Be strew'd before your feet! Let us go. Come; Ant. That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Rome. An apartment in CESAR's house. Enter OCTAVIUS CESAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants. It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate This is the news:-he fishes, drinks, and wastes More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or Vouchsaf'd to think (23) he had partners: you shall find there A man who is the abstract(24) of all faults That all men follow. Lep. I must not think there are Evils enow to darken all his goodness: His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven, Cas. You're too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes him,- Whom these things cannot blemish,-yet must Antony Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, As his own state and ours,—'tis to be chid As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, Lep. Enter a Messenger. Here's more news. Mess. Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, Most noble Cæsar, shalt thou have report How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; That only have fear'd Cæsar: to the ports Cæs. I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state, And the ebb'd man, ne'er lov'd till ne'er worth love, Goes to and back, lackeying(29) the varying tide, To rot itself with motion. Mess. Cæsar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound They make in Italy; the borders maritime Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt: No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more Leave thy lascivious wassails.(30) When thou once Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against, Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign |