ページの画像
PDF
ePub

SCENE VI.

Near Misenum.

Enter POMPEY and MENAS, at one side, with Drum and Trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, with Soldiers marching.

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

Cœs.

Most meet,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we
Our written purposes before us sent;

Which, if thou hast consider'd let us know
If 'twill 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,2
There saw you labouring for him. What was it,
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the 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 burden

[blocks in formation]

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 can'st not fear3 us, Pompey, with thy

sails,

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

At land, indeed,

Pom.
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,4) how

The offers we have sent you.

Cæs.

you take

There's the point.

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 targe❜ undinted.

Caes. 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

3 Affright.

* Present subject.

5 Target, shield.

The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæsar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find

Her welcome friendly.

Ant.

And am well studied for a liberal thanks,

Which I do owe you.

Pom.

I have heard it, Pompey;

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.

Cœs.

Since I saw you last,

Well, I know not

There is a change upon you.

Pom.

What counts" harsh fortune casts upon my face;

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.

Cœs.

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

6 Scores, marks.

Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæsar

Grew fat with feasting there.

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 carriedEno. No more of that:He did so. Pom. Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now;-How far'st thou, soldier?

Eno.

What, I pray you?

And well am like to do; for, I perceive,

Four feasts are toward.

Pom.

Well;

Let me shake thy hand;

I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.

Eno.

Sir,

I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you,
When you have well deserv'd ten times as much
As I have said you did.

Pom.

Enjoy thy plainness,

It nothing ill becomes thee.

Aboard my galley I invite you

all:

Will you lead, lords?

Cæs. Ant. Lep. Show us the way, sir.
Pom.

Come.

[Exeunt POMPEY, CESAR, ANTONY, LE

PIDUS, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.[Aside.]-You and I have known,' sir.

[blocks in formation]

Eno. At sea, I think.

Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. Men. Nor what I have done by water.

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by 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 here; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ?

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

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

Men. Pray you, sir?

Eno. 'Tis true.

Men. Then is Cæsar, and he, for ever knit together. Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophecy so.

« 前へ次へ »