Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, [Exeunt. Changes to the Coaft of Italy, near Misenum. Enter Pompey and Menas, at one door, with drum and trumpet: At another, Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mecænas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching. Pom. YOUR hoftages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. Caf. Most meet, That first we come to words; and therefore have we Our written purposes before us fent; Which, if thou haft confider'd, let us know If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword, And carry back to Sicily much tall youth, Pom. To you all three, The Senators alone of this great world, Caf. Caf. Take your time. Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy fails, We'll speak with thee at fea. At land, thou know'ft, How much we do o'er-count thee. Pom. At land, indeed, Thou doft o'er-count me of my Father's houfe. Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the prefent,) how you take The offers we have fent you. Caf. There's the point. Ant. Which do not be intreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd. Caf. And what may follow To try a larger fortune. Pom. You've made me offer Rid all the fea of Pirates; then to fend Omnes. That's our offer. Pom. Know then, I came before you here, a man prepar'd Put me to fome impatience. Though I lofe Ant. I have heard it, Pompey, And am well ftudied 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'th' Eaft are soft; and thanks to you, That That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither: Caf. Since I faw you laft, There is a change upon you. 9 What counts hard fortune cafts upon my face; Lep. Well met here. Pomp. I hope fo, Lepidus, thus we are agreed: Caf. That's the next to do. Pom. We'll feaft each other, ere we part, and let's Draw lots who shall begin. Ant. That I will, Pompey. Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: But, firft or laft, your fine Egyptian cookery Ant. You have heard much.. Pom. What, I pray you ? Eno. A certain Queen to Cefar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now, how far'st thou, Soldier? Eno. Well; And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Four Feafts are toward. Pom. Let me shake thy hand, I never hated thee: I have feen thee fight, 9 What counts hard fortune cafts, &c.] Metaphor from making marks or lines in cafting accounts in arithmetick. Eno. Eno. Sir, I never lov'd you much, but I ha' prais❜d ye, Pom. Enjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee; Aboard my Galley I invite you all. Will you lead, Lords? All. Shew's the way, Sir. Pomp. Come. [Exeunt. Manent Enob. and Menas. Men. Thy Father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this Treaty. You and I have known, Sir. Eno At fea, 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, fomething you can deny for your own fafety: you have been a great thief by fea. 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 kiffing. are. Men. All men's faces are true, whatfoe'er their hands Eno. But there is ne'er a fair woman, has a true face. Men. No flander-they steal hearts. 1 I will praife any man that will praise me,] The poet's art in delivering this humourous fentiment (which gives us fo very true and natural a picture of the commerce of the world) can never be fufficiently admired. The confeffion could come from none but a frank and rough character like the speaker's; and the moral leffon infinuated under it, that flattery can make its way thro' the most ftubborn manners, deferves our ferious reflexion. Eno. Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a Drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his for tune. Eno. If he do, fure, he cannot weep't back again. Men. You've faid, Sir; we look'd not for Mark Antony here; pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? Eno. Cafar's Sifter is called Octavia. Men. True, Sir, fhe was the Wife of Caius Marcellus. Eno. But now fhe is the Wife of Marcus Antonius. Eno. 'Tis true. Men. Then is Cafar and he for ever knit together. Eno. If I were bound to divine of this Unity, Į would not prophefie fo. Men. I think, the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage, than the love of the parties. Eno. I think so too. But you fhall find, the band, that seems to tie their friendship together, will be the very ftrangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and ftill converfation. Men. Who would not have his Wife fo? Eno. Not he, that himself is not fo; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian Dish again; then fhall the fighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Cafar, and, as I faid before, that which is the ftrength of their amity, fhall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will ufe his affection where it is: He married but his occafion here. Men. And thus it may be. Come, Sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you. Eno. I fhall take it, Sir: we have us'd our throats in Egypt. Men. Come, let's away. [Exeunt. SCENE |