He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,

Of both is flatter'd ; but he neither loves,

Nor either cares for him.

Men.

Cæsar and Lepidus

Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry.

Pom. Where have you this? 'tis false.

Men.

From Silvius, sir.

Pom. He dreams; I know, they are in Rome to

gether,

Looking for Antony: But all charms of love
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd1 lip!

Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
Keep his brain fuming'; Epicurean cooks,
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;

That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour,
Even till a Lethe'd dulness.-How now Varrius?

Enter VARRIUS.

Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver : Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

Expected; since he went from Egypt, 'tis

A

space for further travel.

Pom.

I could have given less matter

A better ear.-Menas, I did not think,

This amorous surfeiter would have don'd4 his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership

Is twice the other twain: But let us rear
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck

2 Declined, faded. 4 Done on; i... put on.

3 To.
• Helmet,

The ne'er lust-wearied Antony.

Men.

I cannot hope,

Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife, that's dead, did trespasses to Cæsar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

Pom.

I know not, Menas,

How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

Were't not that we stand up against them all,

'Twere pregnant they should square" between themselves;

For they have entertained cause enough

To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.
Be it as our gods will have it! It only stands
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas,

[Exeunt

SCENE II.

Rome. A Room in the House of Lepidus.

Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.

Eno.

I shall entreat him

To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him,

Let Antony look over Cæsar's head,

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,

6 Quarrel.

Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

I would not shave to-day.

Lep.

Eno.

For private stomaching.

"Tis not a time

Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. Eno. Not if the small come first.

Lep.

Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.

Eno.

And yonder, Cæsar.

Enter CESAR, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA.

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: Hark you, Ventidius.

→ Cæs.

Mecænas; ask Agrippa.
Lep.

That which combin'd us

A leaner action rend us.

May it be gently heard:

I do not know,

Noble friends,

was most great, and let not What's amiss,

When we debate

Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,

(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to the matter.

Ant.

'Tis spoken well:

Were we before our armies, and to fight,

7 Agree.

8 Let not ill-humour be added.

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so;

Or, being, concern you not.

Cœs.

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

I must be laugh'd at,

Should say myself offended; and with you

Chiefly i' the world: more laugh'd at, that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concern'd me.

Ant.

What was't to you?

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.'

Ant.

How intend you, practis'd? Cas. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation

Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did enquire it;

And have my learning from some true reports,

Use bad arts or stratagems.

I Subject of conversation.

2

Reporters.

That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,

As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.

Cæs.

You praise yourself

By laying defects of judgment to me ; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.

Not so, not so ;

I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,

Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
Which 'fronted3 mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o'the world is yours; which with a snaffle*
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils,5 Cæsar,
Made out of her impatience, (which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant,
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must
But say, I could not help it.

Cœes.

I wrote to you,
When rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.

Sir,

Ant.

3 Opposed.

4 Bridle. 5 Commotions.

6 Messenger.