Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so; Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar; Or, being, concern you not. The article of my oath, Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd them;

Cæs.

I must be laugh'd at,
If, or for nothing, or a little, I
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?

The which you both denied.
Ant.
Neglected, rather;
And then, when poison'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
My being in Egypt, Cæsar, Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour
To stoop in such a case.
Lep.
'Tis nobly spoken.
Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs 5 between ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to atone you.
6

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there
Did practise 8 on my state, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.9

Ant.
How intend you, practis'd?
Cas. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did here befall 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,
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.
Cas.
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 fronted 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 2, 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.

7 Let not ill humour be added.
9 Subject of conversation.

8 Use bad arts or stratagems. 1 Opposed. 2 Commotions.

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

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

4 Conversation.
7 Disposition.

Grievances

Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men ;
Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak
That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
All little jealousies, which now seem 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 studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.

Ant.

Will Cæsar speak?

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

For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great,
Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.

Lep.
Time calls upon us:
Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
Or else he seeks out us.

Ant.

And where lies he?

Cæs. About the Mount Misenum.
Ant.

By land?

Cæs.

Great and increasing: but by sea He is an absolute master.

Ant.

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,
Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that

The winds were love-sick with them: the oars were
silver;

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water, which they beat, to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion, (cloth of gold, of tissue,)
O'er-picturing that Venus, where we see,
The fancy out-work nature: on each side her,
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With diverse-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid, did.

Agr.
O, rare for Antony!
Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
And made their bends adornings: at the helm
A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackles
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame 9 the office. From the barge
A strange invisible pérfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony,
Enthron'd in the market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in nature..

Agr.

Rare Egyptian!
Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
Invited her to supper: she replied,

What's his strength It should be better, he became her guest;
Which she entreated: Our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast;
And, for his ordinary, pays his heart,
For what his eyes eat only.

So is the fame.

Would, we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we
The business we have talk'd of.
Cæs.
With most gladness;
And do invite you to my sister's view,
Whither straight I will lead you.

Agr.

Royal wench!

She made great Cæsar lay his sword to bed.
Eno. I saw her once

Hop forty paces through the public street:
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,

And, breathless, power breathe forth.

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not.

[Flourish. Exeunt CÆSAR, ANTONY, and Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

LEPIDUS.

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.

Her infinite variety: Other women

Cloy th' appetites they feed; but she makes hungry

Eno. Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecænas! Where most she satisfies. For vilest things
- my honourable friend, Agrippa ! -
Agr. Good Enobarbus!

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy dæmon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Cæsar's is not; but near him, thy angel
Becomes a Fear, as being o'erpower'd; therefore
Make space enough between you.

Ant.
Speak this no more.
Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to
thee.

If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, 'tis noble.

Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards:
Come, Charmian.

Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. 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: —
Give me mine angle, · We'll to the river: there,
My musick playing far off, I will betray
Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And say, Ah! ha! you're caught.
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 next morn,
Then put my tires 5 and mantles on him, whilst
Ere the ninth hour, drunk him to his bed;
I wore his sword Philippan. O! from Italy;

Enter a Messenger.

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mess.

Cleo. Antony's dead?—

Madam, madam,

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:
But well and free,

Ant.
Get thee gone:
Say to Ventidius, I would speak with him:
[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia. Be it art, or hap,
He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And, in our sports, my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds:
His cocks do win the battles still of mine,
When it is all to nought; and his quails1 ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd at odds. I will to Egypt:
And, though I make this marriage for my peace,
Enter VENTIDIUS.
I' the east my pleasure lies:
:- O, come,
Το
Ventidius, say, the dead are well; bring it to that,
You must to Parthia; your commission's ready :
The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour
Follow me,
and receive it.
[Exeunt.
Down thy ill-uttering throat.

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

Mess. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo.

Well, go to, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free and healthful,
why so tart a favour
To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,
Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man. 7

3 Mount Misenum. 4 Melancholy. 5 Head dress.
6 So sour a countenance. 7 A man in his senses.

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence;
Well said. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess. I crave your highness' pardon.

Mess. And friends with Cæsar.
Cleo.
Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess.

But yet, madam
Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does allay
The good precedence; fye upon but yet:
But yet is as a gaoler to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

I, that do bring the news, made not the match.
Cleo. Say, 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage;
And I will boot 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.

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within yourself;
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
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
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause. — Come hither, sir.

Re-enter Messenger.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mess.

Cleo. Is he married?

Cleo.

He is married? Mess. Take no offence, that I would not offend you:

To punish me for what you make me do,
Seems much unequal: He is married to Octavia.
Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
That art not! - What? thou'rt sure of t? - Get
thee hence:

The merchandize which thou has brought from Rome
Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em!
[Erit Messenger.
Char.
Good your highness, patience.
Cleo. In praising Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar.
Char. Many times, madam.

Cleo.

Lead me from hence,

I am paid for't now.

[To MARDIAN. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.

SCENE VI. Near Misenum.

[Exeunt.

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.

Most meet,

Cæs.
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 't will tie up thy discontented sword;
And carry back to Sicily much tall 9 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',
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,

I have done my duty. With the arm'd rest, courteous of beauteous freedom,

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

8 Recompense.