Made wars upon me; and their conteftation
Was theam'd for you, you were the word of war.
Ant. You do mistake your bufinefs: my brother

never

Did urge me in his act: I did require it,

And have my learning from fome true reports
That drew their fwords with you. Did he not rather
Difcredit my authority with yours,

And make the wars alike against my ftomach,
Having alike your caufe? of this, my letters
Before did fatisfie you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
(As matter whole you've not to make it with,)
It must not be with this.

Caf. You praise yourself,

By laying defects of Judgment to me: but
You patch up your excuses.

Ant. Not fo, not fo;

I know you could not lack, (I'm certain on't,)
Very neceffity of this thought, that I,

Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with grateful eyes attend those wars,
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my Wife,
I would, you had her spirit in fuch another;
The third o'th' world is yours, which with a fnaffle
You may pace eafie; but not fuch a Wife.

Eno. 'Would, we had all fuch Wives, that the Men might go to wars with the Women!

is directly contrary to the context, which fhews, Antony did neither encourage them to it, nor fecond them in it. We cannot doubt then, but the poet wrote;

i.e. The pretence of their war was on your account, They took your name, and you were made the theme and subject of their infurrection.

up

4

arms in

Did

my brother never

urge me in his a&t :- -] i.e. never did make use of my name as a pretence for the war.

Ant

Ant. So much uncurbable her garboiles, Cafar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdnels of policy too, I grieving grant,
Did you too much difquiet: For That you must.
But fay, I could not help it.

Caf. I wrote to you,

When rioting in Alexandria, you

Did pocket up my letters; and with taunts.
Did gibe my miffive out of audience.

Ant. Sir, he fell on me, ere admitted: then
Three Kings I had newly feafted, and did want
Of what I was i'th' morning: but, next day,
s I told him of my felf; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our ftrife: if we contend,
Out of our question wipe him.

Caf. You have broken

The article of your oath, which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.

Lep. Soft, Cafar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him fpeak;

"The Honour's facred which he talks on now, Suppofing, that I lackt it: but on, Cafar,

The article of my oath

Caf. To lend me arms and aid, when I requir'd them, The which you both deny❜d.

Ant. Neglected, rather:

And then, when poifon'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge; as nearly as I may,
I'll play the Penitent to you. But mine honesty
Shall not make poor my Greatnefs; nor my Power
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;

5 I told him of my felf;] i. e. told him the condition I was in, when he had his laft audience.

6 The Honour's facred] Sacred, for unbroken, unviolated.

For

For which my felf, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoop in such a cafe.

Lep. 'Tis nobly fpc'ken.

Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs between ye: t forget them quite, Were to remember, that the present Need Speaks to atone you,

Lep. Worthily fpoken, Mecanas.

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the inftant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you fhall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else to do.

Ant. Thou art a Soldier, only speak no more.

Eno. That truth fhould be filent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this Prefence, therefore speak no

more.

Eno. Go to then: your confiderate ftone.

Caf. I do not much dislike the manner, but
The matter of this fpeech: for't cannot be,
We fhall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop would hold us ftaunch, from edge to edge
O' th' world, I would pursue it.

Agr. Give me leave, Cæfar.
Caf. Speak, Agrippa.

I do not much diflike the matter, but

The manner of his speech:] What, not diflike the matter of it? when he fays prefently after, that he would do every thing to prevent the evil Enobarbus predicted. Befides, are we to fuppofe that common civility would fuffer him to take the fame liberty with Antony's lieutenant, that Antony himself did? Shakespear

wrote,

I do not much dislike the manner, but
The matter of his speech:-

4. e. 'tis not his liberty of fpeech, but the mischiefs he speaks of, which I diflike. This agrees with what follows, and is faid with much urbanity, and show of friendship.

Agr,

Agr. Thou haft a Sifter by the Mother's fide,
Admir'd Octavia! great Mark Antony
Is now a Widower.

Caf. Say not fo, Agrippa;:

If Cleopatra heard you, your Approof
Were well deferv'd of rafh fs.

Ant. I am not married, Cefar, let me hear
Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual Amity,
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unflipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his Wife; whofe Beauty claims
No worse a Husband than the beft of men;
Whose Virtue, and whofe general Graces speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealoufies, which now feem great,

And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing. Truths would be but tales,
Where now half tales be truths: her love to both,
Would each to other, and all loves to both
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke,
For 'tis a ftudied, not a prefent thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant. Will Cafar speak?

Caf. Not 'till he hears, how Antony is touch'd With what is spoke already.

Ant. What Power is in Agrippa

(If I would fay, "Agrippa, be it fo,")

To make this good?

Caf. The Power of Cæfar, and

His Power unto Octavia.

Ant. May I never

To this good purpose, that fo fairly fhews,
Dream of impediment! let me have thy hand;
Further this act of grace: and, from this hour,
The heart of brothers govern in our loves,
And fway our great designs!

Cef. There is my hand:

1

A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother
Did ever love fo dearly. Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our Hearts, and never
Fly off our loves again!

Lep. Happily, amen.

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey,

For he hath laid ftrange courtefies and great

Of late upon me.

I must thank him only,

Left my remembrance fuffer ill report;
At heel of that, defie him.

Lep. Time calls upon's:

Of us must Pompey prefently be fought,
Or elfe he seeks out us..

Ant. Where lyes he?

Caf. About the Mount Mifenum.
Ant. What is his ftrength by Land?
Caf. Great, and increasing: but by Sea
He is an abfolute Mafter.

Ant. So is the fame.

'Would, we had fpoke together! hafte we for it; Yet, ere we put our felves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talk'd of.

Caf. With moft gladness;

And do invite you to my Sifter's view,
Whither straight I'll lead you.

Ant. Let us, Lepidus, not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony, not fickness fhould detain me.

SCENE

[Flourish. Exeunt,

III.

Manent Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecanas.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, Sir.

Eno. Half the heart of Cafar, worthy Mecanas!

my honourable friend, Agrippa!

Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Mec.