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.

77 several] separate, individual.

[Exeunt.

78 Or I'll unpeople Egypt] Even if I shall send away as messengers all my people.

Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner

By losing of our prayers.
POM.

so find we profit

I shall do well:

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.

MEN.'
Cæsar and Lepidus
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
POм. Where have you this? 't is false.

MEM.

From Silvius, sir.
POм. He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned 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;

10 crescent] growing.

11 it] The antecedent is implied in "My powers are crescent" and may be defined as "the crescent force on my side," which it is hoped will,

like the moon, grow from the crescent stage to the full.

15 he neither loves] he loves neither Cæsar nor Antony.

20 Looking for] Waiting for, expecting.

21 Salt] Wanton, lustful.

waned] faded. The Folios read wand by which "waned" seems intended. Cf. Hamlet, II, ii, 547: "all his visage wann'd (i. e., paled)." Pompey is speaking disrespectfully of Cleopatra.

23 Tie up the libertine ... feasts] Keep the debauchee occupied by a host of luxurious entertainments. The strained figure comes from the practice of tying up, by a loose chain, cattle put out to grass.

10

20

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 't is
A space for farther travel.

POM.

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.

ΜΕΝ.
I cannot hope
Cæsar and Antony shall well greet together:
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Cæsar;

26-27 may prorogue

dulness] may keep his sense of honour stag

nating till it sink into oblivious lethargy.

31 A space for farther travel] A space of time has elapsed for a longer

journey than that from Egypt to Rome.

35-36 let us rear . . . opinion, that] let us hold our reputation in higher esteem seeing that.

37 Egypt's widow] Cleopatra had been married at the instance of Julius Cæsar to her brother Ptolemy.

38-39 I cannot hope. . . together] I cannot expect Cæsar and Antony to greet each other with much friendliness.

30

40

His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
Not moved by Antony.

POM.

I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

Were 't not that we stand up against them all,

"T were pregnant they should square between themselves;

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 upon to use our strongest hands.
Come, Menas.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II - ROME

THE HOUSE OF LEPIDUS

Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS

LEP. Good Enobarbus, 't is a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.

ENO.

I shall entreat him

To answer like himself: if Cæsar move him,
Let Antony look over Cæsar's head

41 warr'd] The Second Folio's correction of the First Folio reading war'd. Cf. II, ii, 46–47, infra: "Your wife and brother Made wars upon me."

45 'T were pregnant . . . themselves] It were evident, or obvious, that they should quarrel amongst themselves.

50-51 It only stands to use] Our lives wholly depend upon our using.