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Mess. Cesar and he are greater friends than

SCENE V.-Alexandria.-A Room in the Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.

Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody

Of us that trade in love.

Attend. The music, ho!

Enter MARDIAN.

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

[food

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 !-O 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 tirest 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. Madam, madam,

Cleo. Antony's dead?

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.
Cleo. Well, go to, I will;

But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony
Be free, and healthful,-why so tart a favourt
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou should'st come like a fury crown'd with
Not like a formal man.
[snakes,

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 Cesar, 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 Cesar.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man.

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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 jailer 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
Cesar;
[free.
In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say 'st,
Mess. Free, madam! no; I made no such re-
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mess. For the best turn i'the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

[port:

Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon [Strikes him down.

thee!

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,

[hadst

Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage; And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou And I will bootf 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. [yourself;

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thun

derbolt.

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
A host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mess. I have done my duty.
Cleo. Is he married?

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,

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Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou would'st appear most ugly. He is mar-
ried?

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, [via. Seems much unequal: He is married to OctaCleo. O, that his fault 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,

[hand, Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy And be undone by 'em! [Exit MESSENGER. Char. Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cesar.

Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo. I am paid for't now.

Lead me from hence,

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.

Ces. There's the point.

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

Ces. And what may follow, To try a larger fortune.

Pom. 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.

Ces. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.
Pom. Know then,

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 Cesar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-"Tis no matter:-I
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 quick-
ly.-
[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 MARDIAN.
Bring me word, how tall she is.-Pity me,
Charmian,

But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my
chamber.

[Exeunt.

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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,
[ther;
That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hi
For I have gain'd by it.

There is a change upon you.
Ces. Since I saw you last,

[face;

What counts; harsh fortune casts upon my
Pom. Well, I know not
But in my bosom shall she never come,
To make my heart her vassal.
Lep. Well met here.

Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed:

I crave, our composition may be written,
And seal'd between us.

Ces. That's the next to do.

Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part;

and let us

Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius
Grew fat with feasting there.
[Cesar

Ant. You have heard much.
Pom. I have fair meanings, Sir.
Ant. And fair words to them.
Pom. Then so much have I heard :-
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried-
Eno. No more of that:-He did so.
Pom. What, I pray you?

Eno. A certain queen to Cesar in a mattress Pom. I know thee now;-How far'st thou, soldier?

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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 day 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; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

Eno. Cesar's sister is call'd Octavia.

Men. True, Sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

Eno. But she is now the wife of Mcus Antonius.

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SCENE VII.-On Board POMPEY'S Galley, lying near Misenum.

Music.

Enter two or three SERVANTS, with a
Banquet.*

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 almsdrink.

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 is to have a name in great men's fellowship; I had as liet 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 CESAR, ANTONY, POMPEY, LEPIDUS, AGRIPPA, MECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other Captains. Ant. Thus do they, Sir: [To CESAR.] 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 seeds

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Pom. Sit, and some wine.-A health to Lepidus.

Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but

I'll ne'er out.

Eno Not till you have slept; I fear me, you'll be in, till then.

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. Men. Pompey, a word.

[1side.

Pom. Say in mine ear: What is't? Men. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, [1side.

And hear me speak a word.

Pom. Forbear me till anon.This wine for Lepidus.

Lep. What manner o'thing is your crocodile? Ant. It is shaped, Sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs: it lives by that which nourisheth it; and the ele ments once out of it, it transmigrates. Lep. What colour is it of? Ant. Of its own colour too.

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Lep. "Tis a strange serpent.
Ant. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
Ces. 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's this cup I call'd for?
Men. It 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 for-

tunes.

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, Although thou think me poor, I am the man 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 dar'st be, the earthly Jove: Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,t Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

Pom. Show me which way.

Men. These three world-sharers, these com-
petitors,+

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,

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

[Aside. I'll never follow thy pall'ds fortunes more.Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis Shall never find it more. [offer'd,

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.

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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.
Men. Come.

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the ves-
Here is to Cesar.
[sels,|| ho!

Ces. I could well forbear it.

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Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne ‡
in thy vals our cares be drown'd;
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd;
Cup us, till the world go round;
Cup us, till the world go round!

Ces. What would you more ?-Pompey, good
night. Good brother.

Let me request you off: our graver business Frowns at this levity.-Gentle lords, let's part; You see, we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarbe

Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost

Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.

Good Antony, your hand.

Pom. I'll try you o'the shore.

Ant. And shall, Sir: give's your hand.
Pom. O, Antony,

You have my father's house,-But what? we are friends:

Come, down into the boat.

Eno. Take heed you fall not.

[Exeunt POMPEY, CESAR, ANTONY, and Attendants. Menas, I'll not on shore.

Men. No, to my cabin.

These drums!-these trumpets, flutes! what!—
Let Neptune hear we bid à loud farewell
To these great fellows: Sound, and be hang'd,

sound out.

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Enter VENTIDIUS, as after Conquest, with SILI-
vs, and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers;
the dead Body of PACORUS borne before him.
Ven. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck;
and now

Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Make me revenger.-Bear the king's son s
body
Before our army:-Thy Pacorus, Orodes,§
* Understand. + Burden, chorus.
↑ Red eyel
Pacorus was the son of Orodes, king of Parthia.

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Ven. O Silius, Silius,

I have done enough: A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act: For learn this,
Silius;

Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire
Too high a fame, when him we serve's away.
Cesar, and Antony, have ever won
More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown, [vour.
Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his fa-
Who does i'the wars more than his captain

can,

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To Antony. But as for Cesar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Agr. Both he loves.

Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle. So,-[Trumpets. This is to horse.-Adieu, noble Agrippa. Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.

Enter CESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA. Ant. No farther, Sir.

Ces. You take from me a great part of my Use me well in it.-Sister, prove such a wife self; As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest band+

Shall pass on thy approof.-Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram, to batter
The fortress of it: for better might we
Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.

Ant. Make me not offended
In your distrust.

Čes. I have said.

Ant. You shall not find,

Though you be therein curious, the least cause For what you seem to fear: So, the gods keep you,

And make the hearts of Romans serve your We will here part. [ends!

Ces. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well;

The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.
Oct. My noble brother!-

Ant. The April's in her eyes: It is love's spring, [cheerful. And these the showers to bring it on.-Be Oct. Sir, look well to my husband's house; andCes. What, Octavia?

Oct. I'll tell you in your ear.

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart,

nor can

Her heart inform her tongue: the swan's down feather,

That stands upon the swell at full of tide,
And neither way inclines.

Eno. Will Cesar weep? [Aside to AGRIPPA.
Agr. He has a cloud in's face.

Eno. He were the worse for that, were he a So is he, being a man. [horse;

Agr. Why, Enobarbus?

When Antony found Julius Cesar dead,
He cried almost to roaring: and he wept,
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum;

Believe it, till I weep too.
What willingly he did confound,¶ he wail'd:

Ces. No, sweet Octavia,

You shall hear from me still; the time shall Out-go my thinking on you. [not

Ant. Come, Sir, come;

I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love: Look, here I have you; thus I let you go, And give you to the gods.

Ces. Adieu; be happy!

Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light To thy fair way!

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