ACT II AGR. Sc. II Royal Wench! I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street; And, having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, And, breathless, power breathe forth. MEC. Now Antony must leave her utterly. ENO. Never; he will not: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry MEC. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle A blessed lottery to him. 230 240 Humbly, Sir, I thank you. [exeunt. SCENE III. The Same. CESAR'S House. Enter ANTONY, CESAR, OCTAVIA between them; and Attendants. ANT. The World and my great office will some ANT. Good night, Sir. My Octavia, A Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear Lady. ACT II Good night, Sir. Sc. III CES. Good night. [Exeunt CESAR and OCTAVIA. Enter the Soothsayer. ANT. Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt? SOOTH. Would I had never come from thence, nor you ANT. If you can, your reason? SOOTH. I see it in my motion,1 have it not in my tongue : ANT. Say to me Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Cæsar's or mine? Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: Thy Demon, that's thy Spirit which keeps thee, is Where Cæsar's is not; but, near him, thy Angel ANT. 20 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, Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But, he away, 'tis noble. 30 [Exit Soothsayer. Be it art or hap, He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him; 1 puppet-show; the images of my vision. 40 ACT II Sc. III Enter VENTIDIUS. O, come, Ventidius, You must to Parthia: your commission 's ready; Follow me, and receive 't. [exeunt. SCENE IV. The Same. A Street. Enter LEPIDUS, MECENAS, and AGRIPPA. LEP. Trouble yourselves no further; pray you, hasten Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. We shall, Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and CLEO. Give me some music-music, moody food Enter MARDIAN the Eunuch. CLEO. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian. As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir? MAR. As well as I can, Madam. CLEO. And when good will is shew'd, though 't come too ACT II short, The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now: And say Ah, ha! you're caught. CHAR. 'Twas merry when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver With fervency drew up. CLEO. That time-O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night Enter a Messenger. O, from Italy! Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren. MESS. Madam, Madam CLEO. Antony's dead? If thou say so, Villain, But, sirrah, mark, we use ΤΟ 20 30 Why, there's more gold. To say the dead are well: bring it to that, Down thy ill-uttering throat. MESS. Good Madam, hear me. CLEO. Well, go to, I will; But there's no goodness1 in thy face, if Antony Be free and healthful-so tart a favour Sc. V 1 i.e. correspondence with truth. ACT II Sc. V To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, MESS. Will❜t please you hear me? 41 CLEO. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st: Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Cæsar, or not captive to him, I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail MESS. Cæsar and he are greater friends than ever. MESS. But yet, Madam— 50 CLEO. I do not like But yet, it does allay The good precedence; fie upon But yet! Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, Friend, The good and bad together. He's friends with In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free. He's bound unto Octavia. CLEO. For what good turn? I am pale, Charmian. 60 MESS. For the best turn i' the bed. MESS. Madam, he's married to Octavia. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in lingering pickle. [She hales him up and down. |