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:- Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, 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 Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, 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, Mess. Good madam, hear me. But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony Mess. Will't please you hear me? Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well, Mess. Madam, he's well. Cleo. Well said. Mess. And friends with Cesar. Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man. ever. Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend. 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. [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. I, that do bring the news, made not the match. 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 Re-enter MESSENGER. Though it be honest, it is never good Mess. I have done my duty. I cannot hate thee worser than I do, 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 Mess. I crave your highness' pardon. 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. Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: 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 Ces. Ant. Lep. That's our offer. came before you here, a man prepar'd I faint; O Iras, Charmian,-"Tis no matter:-I But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my [Exeunt. Ant. I have heard it, Pompey ; Pom. Let me have your hand: I did not think, Sir, to have met you here. There is a change upon you. [face; What counts; harsh fortune casts upon my Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed: I crave, our composition may be written, 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 Ant. You have heard much. Eno. A certain queen to Cesar in a mattress Pom. I know thee now;-How far'st thou, soldier? 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. SCENE VII.-On Board POMPEY'S Galley, lying near Misenum. Music. Enter two or three SERVANTS, with a 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 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. Lep. "Tis a strange serpent. Pom. [To MENAS aside.] Go, hang, Sir, Rise from thy stool. tunes. Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith: What's else to say? Be jolly, lords. Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus, Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world? Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? 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- Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable; 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. 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. Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. Ces. I could well forbear it. Come, thou monarch of the vine, Ces. What would you more ?-Pompey, good 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. 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!— sound out. Enter VENTIDIUS, as after Conquest, with SILI- Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death Ven. O Silius, Silius, I have done enough: A lower place, note well, Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire can, To Antony. But as for Cesar, 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, Ant. Make me not offended 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 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, Eno. Will Cesar weep? [Aside to AGRIPPA. 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, Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum; Believe it, till I weep too. 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! |