Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, Lep. 'Tis pity of him. Ca. Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome. 'Tis time we twain Did show ourselves i' the field; and, to that end, Assemble we immediate council: Pompey Thrives in our idleness. Lep. To-morrow, Cæsar, I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly Cœ. It is my business too. Till which encounter, Lep. Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN. Cle. That I might sleep out this great gap of Cle. Not now to hear thee sing: I take no plea sure In aught an eunuch has. 'Tis well for thee, That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts 1 My bounden duty. 2 A sleepy potion. Cle. Indeed? Mar. Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing But what in deed is honest to be done : Yet have I fierce affections, and think Cle. O Charmian, Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he? Or does he walk? or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony ! Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou movest? The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet1 of men. He's speaking now, Or murmuring, Where's my serpent of old Nile?' With most delicious poison.-Think on me, With looking on his life. Alex. Enter ALEXAS. Sovereign of Egypt, hail! Cle. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! A burgonet is a kind of helmet. Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? He kiss'd, the last of many doubled kisses,- '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 Was beastly dumb'd by him. Cle. 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. Cle. 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 1 A steed looking fierce in armour. The violence of either thee becomes; So does it no man else.-Met'st thou my posts? Cle. 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? Char. O, that brave Cæsar! Cle. Be choked with such another emphasis ! Say, the brave Antony. Char. The valiant Cæsar! Cle. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, If thou with Cæsar paragon again When I was green in judgment:-cold in blood, To say as I said then!-But, come, away: He shall have every day a several greeting, [Exeunt. |