To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man.

Mess.

Will 't please you hear me? Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st : Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well,

Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him,

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

Rich pearls upon thee.

Mess.

Madam, he 's well.

Cleo.

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 as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friends 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!

Mess. Good madam, patience.

Clec.

[Strikes him down.

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, 't is 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.

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

He's married, madam.

[Draws a dagger.

Mess. Nay, then I'll run:

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Ex. Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself; The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.— Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents!-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.

Re-enter Messenger.

Though it be honest, it is never good

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

Mess.

Cleo. Is he married?

I have done my duty,

I cannot hate thee worser than I do
If thou again say,
Yes.

Mess.

He is married, madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there

still?

Mess. Should I lie, madam?

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

The 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 fault should make a knave of thee, That art not what thou 'rt sure of!a-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!

Char.

[Exit Messenger. Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæsar. Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo.

Lead me from hence;

I am paid for 't now.

I faint; O Iras, Charmian.-T is 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:s:-Bid you Alexas

[TO MARDIAN.

a The passage is somewhat obscure, but it has been thus explained:-"Thou art not an honest man, of which thou art thyself assured, because thy master's fault has made a knave of thee."

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, MECENAS, with Soldiers marching.

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight.

Cæs.
Most meet
That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sen;
Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 't will 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,
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 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 burthen
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Cæs.

Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails,

We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st How much we do o'ercount thee.

Pom.

At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'ercount me of my father's house;
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in 't as thou mayst.

Lep.
(For this is from the present) how you take

The offers we have sent you.

Be pleas'd to tell us

There's the point.

Cæs.
Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embrac'd.

Cæs.

To try a larger fortune.

Pom.

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 targes undinted.

Cæs., 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 brother were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant.
And am well studied for a liberal thanks,

I have heard it, Pompey;

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.