Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, Which will become you both, farewell.

Mec. We shall,

As I conceive the journey, be at mount*

Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is shorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;
You'll win two days upon me.

Mec. Agr. Sir, good success !

Lep. Farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.
Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody† food
Of us that trade in love.

Attend. The music, ho!

Char. My arm is sore, best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd,

As with a woman;-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 music 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 that night
I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
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. Madam, madam,—

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress:

But well and free,

*I. e. Mount Misenum.

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 To say, the dead are well: bring it to that,

The gold I give thee, will I melt, and pour

Down thy ill-uttering throat.

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 should'st come like a fury crown'd with snakes,
Not like a formal man.†

Mess. Will't please to hear me?

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

Rich pearls upon thee

Mess. Madam, he's well,

Cleo. Well said.

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; fie upon but yet:

But yet is as a jailer to bring forth

Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend,

Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

The good and bad together: He's friend with Cæsar;
In state of health, thou say'st; and, thou say'st, free.
Mess. Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mess. For the best turn i' the bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia.

Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo. What say you ?-Hence.

Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him again.

[She hales him up and down.

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

*Countenance.

+ A man in form.

+ Modifies the good before reported.

Mess. Gracious madam,

1, 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 lived too long.

Mess. Nay, then I'll run :-.

[Draws a dagger.

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
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
A host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves, when they be felt.

Mess. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married?

I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

If thou again say, Yes.

Mess. He is married, madam.

[Exit.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still? Mess. Should I lie, madam?

Cleo. O, I would, thou didst;

So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made

A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence;

Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess. I crave your highness' pardon.

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 merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome,

Are all too dear for me; Lie they upon thy hand,

And be undone by 'em!

Char. Good your highness, patience.

[Exit MESSENGER.

Cleo. In praising Antony, I have dispraised Cæsar.

* Recompense.

Char. Many times, Madam.
Cleo. I am paid for't now.
Lead me from hence,

I faint; O Iras, Charmian, 'Tis no matter:-
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
Her inclination, let him not leave out

The colour of her hair :-bring me word quickly.

[Exit ALEXAS.

[TO MARDIAN.

Let him for ever go:-Let him not-Charmian,
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
T'other way he's a Mars:-Bid you Alexas
Bring me word, how tall she is.-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.

Cæs. Most meet,

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 'twill tie up thy discontented sword;

And carry back to Sicily much tall + 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 moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what
Made the all-honour'd, honest, Roman Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would
Have one man but a man? And that is it,
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burden
The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.

Cæs. Take your time.

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails, We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st

How much we do o'er-count thee.

Pom. At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house: +

I. e. by the extent of my father's possessions, which thou hast appropriated.

But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in't as thou may'st.

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us,

(For this is from the present, *) how you take The offers we have sent you.

Caes. There's the point.

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embraced.

Cas. And what may follow,

To try a larger fortune.

Pom. You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome: This 'greed upon
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our target undinted.

Cas. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.

Pom. Know then,

I came before you here, a man prepared
To take this offer: But Mark Antony

Put me to some impatience: Though I lose
The praise of it by telling, You must know,
When Cæsar and your brothers were at blows,
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
Her welcome friendly.

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey;

And am well studied 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' the east are soft; and thanks to you,

That call me, timelier than my purpose, hither;

For I have gain'd by it.

Caes. Since I saw you last,

There is a change upon you.

Pom. Well, I know not

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
But in my bosom shall she never come,

To make my heart her vassal.

Lep. Well met here.

Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed:

I crave, our composition may be written,

And sealed between us.

Cæs. That's the next to do.

Pom. We'll feast each other, ere we part; and let us

Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant. That will I, Pompey.

Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first

Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Julius Cæsar

Grew fat with feasting there.

Ant. You have heard much.

* Present subject.

+ Target, shield.

Scores, marks.