7

ACT I
Sc. V

He kiss'd-the last of many doubled kisses—
This orient pearl: his speech sticks in my heart.
CLEO. Mine ear must pluck it thence.

ALEX.

Good Friend, quoth he,

Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot,
To mend the petty present, I will piece

Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the East,
Say thou, shall call her mistress. So he nodded,
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,1

Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke 50
Was beastly dumb'd by him.

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
That make their looks by his; he was not merry,
Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy; but between both:

O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry,
The violence of either thee becomes,

So does it no man else. Mett'st thou my posts?
ALEX. Ay, Madam, twenty several messengers:
Why do you send so thick?

CLEO.

Who's born that day

When I forget to send to Antony

Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Cæsar so?

CLEO. Be chok'd with such another emphasis !

Say, the brave Antony.

CHAR.

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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,
Or I'll unpeople Egypt.

[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
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony

In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make

No wars without doors: Cæsar gets money where
He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,

Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him.

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,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wann'd lip!

Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,

Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;

That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

Enter VARRIUS.

How now, Varrius!

VAR. This is most certain that I shall deliver:

Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
A space1 for further travel.

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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
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

MEN.

I cannot hope

Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Cæsar;
His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not mov'd by Antony.

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
May cement their divisions, and bind up
The petty difference, we yet not know.

Be 't as our Gods will have 't! It only stands
Our lives upon3 to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

1 i.e. of time.

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[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
To soft and gentle speech.

Serves for the matter that is then born in 't.

LEP. But small to greater matters must give way.
ENO. Not if the small come first.

LEP.

IO

Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Enter CÆSAR, Mecænas, and AGRIPPA.

ANT. If we compose well here, to Parthia :

That which combin'd us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,

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)

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ACT II
Sc. II

ACT II
Sc. 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
It not concern'd me.

ANT.

What was 't to you?

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

CAS. No more than my residing here at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.

How intend you, practis'd?

ANT.
CES. 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 inquire it;

And have my learning from some true reports,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with your's,

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.

CÆS.

You praise yourself

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