Cleo.

O, I would, thou didst; So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made A cistern for scal’d snakes! Go, get thee hence; Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou would'st 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 oft?-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!

[Exit Messenger. Char.

Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'a Cæsar. 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:

[Erit ALEXAS. Let hiin for ever go:--Let him not-Charınian,

? — were submerg'd,] Submerg‘d is whelmed under water.

s- the feature of Octavia,] By feature seems to be meant, the cast and make of her face. Feature, however, anciently appears to bave signified beauty in general. | 4 Let him for ever go:] She is now talking in broken sentences, not of the Messenger, but Antony. JOHNson.

Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
T'other way he's a Mars:-Bid you Alexas

[To MARDIAN. Bring me word, how tall she is.— Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me.-Lead me to my chamber.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Near Misenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas, at one side, with Drum and Trumpet: at another, CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, ANTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECÆNAS, 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 moy'd 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, VOL. VIII.

Ε Ε

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 ; 6 But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in't as thon may'st. - Lep.

Be pleas'd to tell us, (For this is from the present,9) how you take The offers we have sent you. - Cres.

There's the point. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd. Ces.

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

s Thou canst not fear us,] Thou canst not affright us with thy numerous navy.

At land, indeed,

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:] At land indeed thou dost exceed me in possessions, having added to thy own my father's house. O'er-count seems to be used equivocally, and Pompey perhaps meant to insinuate that Antony not only out-numbered, but had over-reached, him.

Our targe undinted.

Cæs. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.
Pom.

Know then,
I came before you here, a man prepar'd
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. Рот.

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?d me, timelier than my purpose, hither; For I have gain'd by it. Cæs.

Since I saw you last,
There is a change upon you.

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.

Well met here.
Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.—Thus we are agreed
I crave, our composition may be written,
And seal'd 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.

Lep.

9 What counts harsh fortune casts, &c.] Metaphor from making marks or lines in casting accounts in arithmetick.

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.
Pom. I have fair meanings, sir.
Ant.

And fair words to them.
Pom. Then so much have I heard :-
And I have heard, Apollodorus carried

Eno. No more of that:-He did so.
Pom.

What, I pray you?
Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress.
Pom. I know thee now; How far’st thou, soldier?
Eno.

Well;
And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
Four feasts are toward.
Рот.

Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behaviour.
Eno.

Sir,
I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you,
When you have well deserv'd ten times as much
As I have said you did.
Pom.

Enjoy thy plainness,
It nothing ill becomes thee.
Aboard my galley I invite you all :
Will you lead, lords?

Cies. Ant. Lep. Show us the way, sir.
Pom.

Come. [Exeunt Pomper, Cæsar, Antony, Lepi

Dus, Soldiers, and Attendants. Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.—[ Aside.] - You and I have known, sir.

Eno. At sea, I think.

"You and I have known, sir.) i. e. been acquainted.