A sennet sounded. Enter CESAR, ANTONY, POMPEY, LEPIDUS, AGRIPPA, MECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other Captains. Ant. Thus do they, sir: [to Cæsar.] they take By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know, Lep. You have strange serpents there. Ant. Ay, Lepidus. Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile. Ant. They are so. Pom. Sit, and some wine.-A health to Lepidus. Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out. Eno. Not till you have slept: I fear me, you'll be in till then. Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things; without contradiction, I have heard that. Menas. Pompey, a word. [aside. Say in mine ear: what is 't? 1 Plenty. Menas. Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, cap Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile ? Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, and moves with its own organs: it lives by that which norisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates. Lep. What color is it of? Ant. Of its own color too. Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent. Ant. 'Tis so: and the tears of it are wet. Ca. Will this description satisfy him? Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure. Pom. [to Menas aside.] Go, hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you.-Where's this cup I call'd for? Menas. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool. Pom. [aside. I think thou 'rt mad. The matter? [rises, and walks aside. Menas. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. Pom. Thou hast served me with much faith: what's else to say? Be jolly, lords. Ant. These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink. Menas. Wilt thou be lord of all the world? Pom. What say'st thou ? Menas. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice. Pom. How should that be? Menas. But entertain it, and, Although thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world. Pom. Hast thou drunk well? Menas. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove : Is thine, if thou wilt have 't. Pom. Show me which way. Menas. These three world-sharers, these com petitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable; And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: All there is thine. Pom. Ah, this thou shouldst have done, And not have spoke on 't! In me, 'tis villany; know, 'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor; Mine honor it. Repent, that e'er thy tongue Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done; But must condemn it now. Menas. For this, Desist, and drink, [aside. I'll never follow thy pall'd1 fortunes more. Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, Shall never find it more. Pom. This health to Lepidus. Ant. Bear him ashore.-I'll pledge it for him, Pompey. Eno. Here's to thee, Menas. Menas. Enobarbus, welcome. Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid. Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. [pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus. Menas. Eno. Why? He bears The third part of the world, man; seest not? Menas. The third part then is drunk: would it were all, That it might go on wheels! Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels. Menas. Come. Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. Ant. It ripens towards it.-Strike the vessels, It's monstrous labor, when I wash my brain, Ant. Be a child o' the time. Ca. Possess 1 it, I'll make answer: but I had rather fast From all, four days, than drink so much in one. [to Antony. Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, And celebrate our drink? Pom. Let's ha 't, good soldier. Ant. Come, let us all take hands; Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense In soft and delicate Lethe. Eno. All take hands: Make battery to our ears with the loud music :The while, I'll place you: then the boy shall sing; 2 The holding every man shall bear, as loud As his strong sides can volley. [music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand. |