7 ACT I He kiss'd-the last of many doubled kisses— ALEX. Good Friend, quoth he, Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the East, Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke 50 CLEO. What, was he sad or merry ? ALEX. Like to the time o' the year between the extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry. CLEO. O well-divided disposition! Note him, Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him: He was not sad, for he would shine on those O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry, So does it no man else. Mett'st thou my posts? CLEO. Who's born that day When I forget to send to Antony Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian. CLEO. Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! Say, the brave Antony. CHAR. 60 When I was green in judgment: cold in blood, To say as I said then! But, come, away; Get me ink and paper: He shall have every day a several greeting, [exeunt. ACT I Sc. V ACT II SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY's House. Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner. POм. If the great Gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men. MENE. Know, worthy Pompey, That what they do delay, they not deny. POM. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for. MENE. We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise Powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers. The People love me, and the Sea is mine; My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money where Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, ΜΕΝ. Cæsar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry. POм. Where have you this? 'tis false. ΜΕΝ. From Silvius, Sir. POм. He dreams: I know they are in Rome together, ACT II Sc. I Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour Enter VARRIUS. How now, Varrius! VAR. This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 20 30 I could have given less matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd 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 MEN. I cannot hope Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together: How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were't not that we stand up against them all, 'Twere pregnant they should square between them selves; For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords: but how the fear of us Be 't as our Gods will have 't! It only stands 1 i.e. of time. 50 [exeunt. SCENE II. Rome. The House of LEPIDUS. Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS. LEP. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your Captain Serves for the matter that is then born in 't. LEP. But small to greater matters must give way. LEP. IO Your speech is passion: But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes Enter CÆSAR, Mecænas, and AGRIPPA. ANT. If we compose well here, to Parthia : That which combin'd us was most great, and let not May it be gently heard: when we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds: then, noble Partners (The rather, for I earnestly beseech) 20 ACT II ACT II Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to the matter. ANT. I learn, you take things ill which are not so, Or, being, concern you not. CES. 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 ANT. What was 't to you? My being in Egypt, Cæsar, CAS. No more than my residing here at Rome How intend you, practis'd? ANT. ANT. You do mistake your business; my brother never And have my learning from some true reports, 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, CÆS. You praise yourself 30 40 50 |