Atten. The music, ho! Enter Mardian. Cleo. Let it alone; let us to billiards :—come, Charmian. I'll none now:— Give me mine angle,—we'll to the river: there, Char. 'Twas merry, when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Cleo. That time!—O times! I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night Rain thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Mess. Madam, madam,— Cleo. Antony's dead :—If thou say so, Villain, thou kill'st thy mistress: but well, and free, 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 is well: Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, sirrah, mark ; we use To say, the dead are well: bring it to that, Down thy ill-uttering throat. Mess. Good madam, hear me. But there's no goodness in thy face: If Antony Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes, Not like a formal man. Mess. Wilt please you 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, 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. Mark 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 gaoler, to bring forth Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, friend, Pour out thy pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together: He's friends 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. I am pale, Charmian. Mess. Madam, he's marry'd to Octavia. Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! Mess. Good madam, patience. [Strikes him down. Cleo. What say you? [Striking him again.] Hence, Horrible villain! or I'll' spurn thine eyes Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head: [Hales him up and down. Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle! Mess. Gracious madam, I, that do bring the news, made not the match. Thy modesty can beg. Mess. He's marry'd, madam. Cleo. Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long. Mess. Nay, then I'll run : [Draws a Dagger. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. [Exit Messenger. 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 Enter Messenger. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news: Give to a gracious message Mess. I have but done my duty. I cannot hate thee worser than I do, Mess. He's marry'd madam. 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 Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is marry'd? Cleo. He is marry'd? Mess. Take no offence, that I would not offend you: To punish me for what you make me do, Seems much unequal: He's marry'd to Octavia. Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, That say'st but what thou art sure of! Get thee hence: The merchandize, which thou hast brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me; lie they upon thy hand, [Exit Messenger. Char. Good your highness, patience. Cleo. In praising Antony, I have disprais'd Cæsar. Char. Many times, madam. Cleo. I'm pay'd for't now. Lead me from hence. I faint; O Iras, Charmian,—Tis no matter:— Report the feature of Octavia, her years, The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.- (Exit Alexas. Let him for ever go:—Let him not, Charmian; [TO MARDIAN. Bring me word, how tall she is.—Pity me, Char mian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Rome. A Room in Cesar's House. Enter OCTAVIUS CESAR, MECENAS, and Agrippa. Oct. Contemning Rome, he did all this: And once, In Alexandria, here's the manner of it,— I'the market place, on a tribunal silver'd, Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold, Were publicly enthron'd: at the feet, sat Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son; And all the unlawful issue, that their lust Since then hath made between them. Unto her gave the 'stablishmeht of Egypt; made her Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, He Absolute queen. Mec. This in the public eye? Oct. I'the common show-place, where they exer- His sons he there proclaim'd, the kings of kings: He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd In the habiliments of the goddess Isis That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, |