Antony and Cleopatra

1Nay, but this dotage of our general's

2O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,

3That o'er the files and musters of the war

4Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,

5The office and devotion of their view

6Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,

7Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst

8The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper,

9And is become the bellows and the fan

10To cool a gipsy's lust.

11Look, where they come:

12Take but good note, and you shall see in him.

13The triple pillar of the world transform'd

14Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

15If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

16There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

17I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

18Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

19News, my good lord, from Rome.

20Grates me: the sum.

21Nay, hear them, Antony:

22Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows

23If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent

24His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this;

25Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;

26Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'

27How, my love!

28Perchance! nay, and most like:

29You must not stay here longer, your dismission

30Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.

31Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both?

32Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen,

33Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine

34Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame

35When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

36Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch

37Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.

38Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike

39Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life

40Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair

41And such a twain can do't, in which I bind,

42On pain of punishment, the world to weet

43We stand up peerless.

44Excellent falsehood!

45Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?

46I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony

47Will be himself.

48But stirr'd by Cleopatra.

49Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,

50Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:

51There's not a minute of our lives should stretch

52Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

53Hear the ambassadors.

54Fie, wrangling queen!

55Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,

56To weep; whose every passion fully strives

57To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!

58No messenger, but thine; and all alone

59To-night we'll wander through the streets and note

60The qualities of people. Come, my queen;

61Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.

62Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?

63Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,

64He comes too short of that great property

65Which still should go with Antony.

66I am full sorry

67That he approves the common liar, who

68Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope

69Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

1Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,

2almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer

3that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew

4this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns

5with garlands!

6Soothsayer!

7Your will?

8Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?

9In nature's infinite book of secrecy

10A little I can read.

11Show him your hand.

12Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough

13Cleopatra's health to drink.

14Good sir, give me good fortune.

15I make not, but foresee.

16Pray, then, foresee me one.

17You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

18He means in flesh.

19No, you shall paint when you are old.

20Wrinkles forbid!

21Vex not his prescience; be attentive.

22Hush!

23You shall be more beloving than beloved.

24I had rather heat my liver with drinking.

25Nay, hear him.

26Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married

27to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all:

28let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry

29may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius

30Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.

31You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

32O excellent! I love long life better than figs.

33You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune

34Than that which is to approach.

35Then belike my children shall have no names:

36prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

37If every of your wishes had a womb.

38And fertile every wish, a million.

39Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

40You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

41Nay, come, tell Iras hers.

42We'll know all our fortunes.

43Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall

44be--drunk to bed.

45There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

46E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

47Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

48Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful

49prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee,

50tell her but a worky-day fortune.

51Your fortunes are alike.

52But how, but how? give me particulars.

53I have said.

54Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

55Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than

56I, where would you choose it?

57Not in my husband's nose.

58Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,--come,

59his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman

60that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! and let

61her die too, and give him a worse! and let worst

62follow worse, till the worst of all follow him

63laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good

64Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a

65matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

66Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people!

67for, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man

68loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a

69foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep

70decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

71Amen.

72Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make me a

73cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but

74they'ld do't!

75Hush! here comes Antony.

76Not he; the queen.

77Saw you my lord?

78No, lady.

79Was he not here?

80No, madam.

81He was disposed to mirth; but on the sudden

82A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!

83Madam?

84Seek him, and bring him hither.

85Where's Alexas?

86Here, at your service. My lord approaches.

87We will not look upon him: go with us.

88Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.

89Against my brother Lucius?

90Ay:

91But soon that war had end, and the time's state

92Made friends of them, joining their force 'gainst Caesar;

93Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,

94Upon the first encounter, drave them.

95Well, what worst?

96The nature of bad news infects the teller.

97When it concerns the fool or coward. On:

98Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus:

99Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,

100I hear him as he flatter'd.

101Labienus--

102This is stiff news--hath, with his Parthian force,

103Extended Asia from Euphrates;

104His conquering banner shook from Syria

105To Lydia and to Ionia; Whilst--

106Antony, thou wouldst say,--

107O, my lord!

108Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue:

109Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;

110Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults

111With such full licence as both truth and malice

112Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds,

113When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us

114Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

115At your noble pleasure.

116From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!

117The man from Sicyon,--is there such an one?

118He stays upon your will.

119Let him appear.

120These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,

121Or lose myself in dotage.

122What are you?

123Fulvia thy wife is dead.

124Where died she?

125In Sicyon:

126Her length of sickness, with what else more serious

127Importeth thee to know, this bears.

128Forbear me.

129There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:

130What our contempt doth often hurl from us,

131We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,

132By revolution lowering, does become

133The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone;

134The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on.

135I must from this enchanting queen break off:

136Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,

137My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enobarbus!

138What's your pleasure, sir?

139I must with haste from hence.

140Why, then, we kill all our women:

141we see how mortal an unkindness is to them;

142if they suffer our departure, death's the word.

143I must be gone.

144Under a compelling occasion, let women die; it were

145pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between

146them and a great cause, they should be esteemed

147nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of

148this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty

149times upon far poorer moment: I do think there is

150mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon

151her, she hath such a celerity in dying.

152She is cunning past man's thought.

153Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but

154the finest part of pure love: we cannot call her

155winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater

156storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this

157cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a

158shower of rain as well as Jove.

159Would I had never seen her.

160O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece

161of work; which not to have been blest withal would

162have discredited your travel.

163Fulvia is dead.

164Sir?

165Fulvia is dead.

166Fulvia!

167Dead.

168Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When

169it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man

170from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth;

171comforting therein, that when old robes are worn

172out, there are members to make new. If there were

173no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut,

174and the case to be lamented: this grief is crowned

175with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new

176petticoat: and indeed the tears live in an onion

177that should water this sorrow.

178The business she hath broached in the state

179Cannot endure my absence.

180And the business you have broached here cannot be

181without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which

182wholly depends on your abode.

183No more light answers. Let our officers

184Have notice what we purpose. I shall break

185The cause of our expedience to the queen,

186And get her leave to part. For not alone

187The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,

188Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too

189Of many our contriving friends in Rome

190Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius

191Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands

192The empire of the sea: our slippery people,

193Whose love is never link'd to the deserver

194Till his deserts are past, begin to throw

195Pompey the Great and all his dignities

196Upon his son; who, high in name and power,

197Higher than both in blood and life, stands up

198For the main soldier: whose quality, going on,

199The sides o' the world may danger: much is breeding,

200Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life,

201And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure,

202To such whose place is under us, requires

203Our quick remove from hence.

204I shall do't.

1Where is he?

2I did not see him since.

3See where he is, who's with him, what he does:

4I did not send you: if you find him sad,

5Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report

6That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.

7Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,

8You do not hold the method to enforce

9The like from him.

10What should I do, I do not?

11In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.

12Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.

13Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:

14In time we hate that which we often fear.

15But here comes Antony.

16I am sick and sullen.

17I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,--

18Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall:

19It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature

20Will not sustain it.

21Now, my dearest queen,--

22Pray you, stand further from me.

23What's the matter?

24I know, by that same eye, there's some good news.

25What says the married woman? You may go:

26Would she had never given you leave to come!

27Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:

28I have no power upon you; hers you are.

29The gods best know,--

30O, never was there queen

31So mightily betray'd! yet at the first

32I saw the treasons planted.

33Cleopatra,--

34Why should I think you can be mine and true,

35Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,

36Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,

37To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,

38Which break themselves in swearing!

39Most sweet queen,--

40Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,

41But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying,

42Then was the time for words: no going then;

43Eternity was in our lips and eyes,

44Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor,

45But was a race of heaven: they are so still,

46Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,

47Art turn'd the greatest liar.

48How now, lady!

49I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know

50There were a heart in Egypt.

51Hear me, queen:

52The strong necessity of time commands

53Our services awhile; but my full heart

54Remains in use with you. Our Italy

55Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius

56Makes his approaches to the port of Rome:

57Equality of two domestic powers

58Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength,

59Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey,

60Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace,

61Into the hearts of such as have not thrived

62Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;

63And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge

64By any desperate change: my more particular,

65And that which most with you should safe my going,

66Is Fulvia's death.

67Though age from folly could not give me freedom,

68It does from childishness: can Fulvia die?

69She's dead, my queen:

70Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read

71The garboils she awaked; at the last, best:

72See when and where she died.

73O most false love!

74Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill

75With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,

76In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be.

77Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know

78The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,

79As you shall give the advice. By the fire

80That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence

81Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war

82As thou affect'st.

83Cut my lace, Charmian, come;

84But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well,

85So Antony loves.

86My precious queen, forbear;

87And give true evidence to his love, which stands

88An honourable trial.

89So Fulvia told me.

90I prithee, turn aside and weep for her,

91Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears

92Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene

93Of excellent dissembling; and let it look

94Life perfect honour.

95You'll heat my blood: no more.

96You can do better yet; but this is meetly.

97Now, by my sword,--

98And target. Still he mends;

99But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,

100How this Herculean Roman does become

101The carriage of his chafe.

102I'll leave you, lady.

103Courteous lord, one word.

104Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:

105Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;

106That you know well: something it is I would,

107O, my oblivion is a very Antony,

108And I am all forgotten.

109But that your royalty

110Holds idleness your subject, I should take you

111For idleness itself.

112'Tis sweating labour

113To bear such idleness so near the heart

114As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;

115Since my becomings kill me, when they do not

116Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence;

117Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly.

118And all the gods go with you! upon your sword

119Sit laurel victory! and smooth success

120Be strew'd before your feet!

121Let us go. Come;

122Our separation so abides, and flies,

123That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me,

124And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away!

1You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,

2It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate

3Our great competitor: from Alexandria

4This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes

5The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like

6Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy

7More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or

8Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall find there

9A man who is the abstract of all faults

10That all men follow.

11I must not think there are

12Evils enow to darken all his goodness:

13His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,

14More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary,

15Rather than purchased; what he cannot change,

16Than what he chooses.

17You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not

18Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;

19To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit

20And keep the turn of tippling with a slave;

21To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet

22With knaves that smell of sweat: say this

23becomes him,--

24As his composure must be rare indeed

25Whom these things cannot blemish,--yet must Antony

26No way excuse his soils, when we do bear

27So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd

28His vacancy with his voluptuousness,

29Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones,

30Call on him for't: but to confound such time,

31That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud

32As his own state and ours,--'tis to be chid

33As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge,

34Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,

35And so rebel to judgment.

36Here's more news.

37Thy biddings have been done; and every hour,

38Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report

39How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;

40And it appears he is beloved of those

41That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports

42The discontents repair, and men's reports

43Give him much wrong'd.

44I should have known no less.

45It hath been taught us from the primal state,

46That he which is was wish'd until he were;

47And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love,

48Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body,

49Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,

50Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,

51To rot itself with motion.

52Caesar, I bring thee word,

53Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates,

54Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound

55With keels of every kind: many hot inroads

56They make in Italy; the borders maritime

57Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt:

58No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon

59Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more

60Than could his war resisted.

61Antony,

62Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once

63Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st

64Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel

65Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against,

66Though daintily brought up, with patience more

67Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink

68The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle

69Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign

70The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;

71Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets,

72The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps

73It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh,

74Which some did die to look on: and all this--

75It wounds thine honour that I speak it now--

76Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek

77So much as lank'd not.

78'Tis pity of him.

79Let his shames quickly

80Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain

81Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end

82Assemble we immediate council: Pompey

83Thrives in our idleness.

84To-morrow, Caesar,

85I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly

86Both what by sea and land I can be able

87To front this present time.

88Till which encounter,

89It is my business too. Farewell.

90Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime

91Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,

92To let me be partaker.

93Doubt not, sir;

94I knew it for my bond.

1Charmian!

2Madam?

3Ha, ha!

4Give me to drink mandragora.

5Why, madam?

6That I might sleep out this great gap of time

7My Antony is away.

8You think of him too much.

9O, 'tis treason!

10Madam, I trust, not so.

11Thou, eunuch Mardian!

12What's your highness' pleasure?

13Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure

14In aught an eunuch has: 'tis well for thee,

15That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts

16May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?

17Yes, gracious madam.

18Indeed!

19Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing

20But what indeed is honest to be done:

21Yet have I fierce affections, and think

22What Venus did with Mars.

23O Charmian,

24Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?

25Or does he walk? or is he on his horse?

26O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!

27Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou movest?

28The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm

29And burgonet of men. He's speaking now,

30Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile?'

31For so he calls me: now I feed myself

32With most delicious poison. Think on me,

33That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black,

34And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar,

35When thou wast here above the ground, I was

36A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey

37Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow;

38There would he anchor his aspect and die

39With looking on his life.

40Sovereign of Egypt, hail!

41How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!

42Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath

43With his tinct gilded thee.

44How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?

45Last thing he did, dear queen,

46He kiss'd,--the last of many doubled kisses,--

47This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.

48Mine ear must pluck it thence.

49'Good friend,' quoth he,

50'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends

51This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot,

52To mend the petty present, I will piece

53Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the east,

54Say thou, shall call her mistress.' So he nodded,

55And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,

56Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke

57Was beastly dumb'd by him.

58What, was he sad or merry?

59Like to the time o' the year between the extremes

60Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.

61O well-divided disposition! Note him,

62Note him good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him:

63He was not sad, for he would shine on those

64That make their looks by his; he was not merry,

65Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay

66In Egypt with his joy; but between both:

67O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry,

68The violence of either thee becomes,

69So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts?

70Ay, madam, twenty several messengers:

71Why do you send so thick?

72Who's born that day

73When I forget to send to Antony,

74Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.

75Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,

76Ever love Caesar so?

77O that brave Caesar!

78Be choked with such another emphasis!

79Say, the brave Antony.

80The valiant Caesar!

81By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth,

82If thou with Caesar paragon again

83My man of men.

84By your most gracious pardon,

85I sing but after you.

86My salad days,

87When I was green in judgment: cold in blood,

88To say as I said then! But, come, away;

89Get me ink and paper:

90He shall have every day a several greeting,

91Or I'll unpeople Egypt.

1If the great gods be just, they shall assist

2The deeds of justest men.

3Know, worthy Pompey,

4That what they do delay, they not deny.

5Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays

6The thing we sue for.

7We, ignorant of ourselves,

8Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers

9Deny us for our good; so find we profit

10By losing of our prayers.

11I shall do well:

12The people love me, and the sea is mine;

13My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope

14Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony

15In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make

16No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where

17He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,

18Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,

19Nor either cares for him.

20Caesar and Lepidus

21Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.

22Where have you this? 'tis false.

23From Silvius, sir.

24He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,

25Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,

26Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!

27Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!

28Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,

29Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks

30Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;

31That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour

32Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

33How now, Varrius!

34This is most certain that I shall deliver:

35Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

36Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis

37A space for further travel.

38I could have given less matter

39A better ear. Menas, I did not think

40This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm

41For such a petty war: his soldiership

42Is twice the other twain: but let us rear

43The higher our opinion, that our stirring

44Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck

45The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

46I cannot hope

47Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:

48His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;

49His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,

50Not moved by Antony.

51I know not, Menas,

52How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

53Were't not that we stand up against them all,

54'Twere pregnant they should square between

55themselves;

56For they have entertained cause enough

57To draw their swords: but how the fear of us

58May cement their divisions and bind up

59The petty difference, we yet not know.

60Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands

61Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.

62Come, Menas.

1Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,

2And shall become you well, to entreat your captain

3To soft and gentle speech.

4I shall entreat him

5To answer like himself: if Caesar move him,

6Let Antony look over Caesar's head

7And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,

8Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

9I would not shave't to-day.

10'Tis not a time

11For private stomaching.

12Every time

13Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

14But small to greater matters must give way.

15Not if the small come first.

16Your speech is passion:

17But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes

18The noble Antony.

19And yonder, Caesar.

20If we compose well here, to Parthia:

21Hark, Ventidius.

22I do not know,

23Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.

24Noble friends,

25That which combined us was most great, and let not

26A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,

27May it be gently heard: when we debate

28Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

29Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,

30The rather, for I earnestly beseech,

31Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,

32Nor curstness grow to the matter.

33'Tis spoken well.

34Were we before our armies, and to fight.

35I should do thus.

36Welcome to Rome.

37Thank you.

38Sit.

39Sit, sir.

40Nay, then.

41I learn, you take things ill which are not so,

42Or being, concern you not.

43I must be laugh'd at,

44If, or for nothing or a little, I

45Should say myself offended, and with you

46Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should

47Once name you derogately, when to sound your name

48It not concern'd me.

49My being in Egypt, Caesar,

50What was't to you?

51No more than my residing here at Rome

52Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there

53Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt

54Might be my question.

55How intend you, practised?

56You may be pleased to catch at mine intent

57By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother

58Made wars upon me; and their contestation

59Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

60You do mistake your business; my brother never

61Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;

62And have my learning from some true reports,

63That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather

64Discredit my authority with yours;

65And make the wars alike against my stomach,

66Having alike your cause? Of this my letters

67Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,

68As matter whole you have not to make it with,

69It must not be with this.

70You praise yourself

71By laying defects of judgment to me; but

72You patch'd up your excuses.

73Not so, not so;

74I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,

75Very necessity of this thought, that I,

76Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,

77Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars

78Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,

79I would you had her spirit in such another:

80The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle

81You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

82Would we had all such wives, that the men might go

83to wars with the women!

84So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar

85Made out of her impatience, which not wanted

86Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant

87Did you too much disquiet: for that you must

88But say, I could not help it.

89I wrote to you

90When rioting in Alexandria; you

91Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts

92Did gibe my missive out of audience.

93Sir,

94He fell upon me ere admitted: then

95Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want

96Of what I was i' the morning: but next day

97I told him of myself; which was as much

98As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow

99Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,

100Out of our question wipe him.

101You have broken

102The article of your oath; which you shall never

103Have tongue to charge me with.

104Soft, Caesar!

105No,

106Lepidus, let him speak:

107The honour is sacred which he talks on now,

108Supposing that I lack'd it. But, on, Caesar;

109The article of my oath.

110To lend me arms and aid when I required them;

111The which you both denied.

112Neglected, rather;

113And then when poison'd hours had bound me up

114From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,

115I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty

116Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power

117Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,

118To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;

119For which myself, the ignorant motive, do

120So far ask pardon as befits mine honour

121To stoop in such a case.

122'Tis noble spoken.

123If it might please you, to enforce no further

124The griefs between ye: to forget them quite

125Were to remember that the present need

126Speaks to atone you.

127Worthily spoken, Mecaenas.

128Or, if you borrow one another's love for the

129instant, you may, when you hear no more words of

130Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to

131wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.

132Thou art a soldier only: speak no more.

133That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.

134You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

135Go to, then; your considerate stone.

136I do not much dislike the matter, but

137The manner of his speech; for't cannot be

138We shall remain in friendship, our conditions

139So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew

140What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge

141O' the world I would pursue it.

142Give me leave, Caesar,--

143Speak, Agrippa.

144Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,

145Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony

146Is now a widower.

147Say not so, Agrippa:

148If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

149Were well deserved of rashness.

150I am not married, Caesar: let me hear

151Agrippa further speak.

152To hold you in perpetual amity,

153To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts

154With an unslipping knot, take Antony

155Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims

156No worse a husband than the best of men;

157Whose virtue and whose general graces speak

158That which none else can utter. By this marriage,

159All little jealousies, which now seem great,

160And all great fears, which now import their dangers,

161Would then be nothing: truths would be tales,

162Where now half tales be truths: her love to both

163Would, each to other and all loves to both,

164Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;

165For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,

166By duty ruminated.

167Will Caesar speak?

168Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd

169With what is spoke already.

170What power is in Agrippa,

171If I would say, 'Agrippa, be it so,'

172To make this good?

173The power of Caesar, and

174His power unto Octavia.

175May I never

176To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,

177Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand:

178Further this act of grace: and from this hour

179The heart of brothers govern in our loves

180And sway our great designs!

181There is my hand.

182A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother

183Did ever love so dearly: let her live

184To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never

185Fly off our loves again!

186Happily, amen!

187I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;

188For he hath laid strange courtesies and great

189Of late upon me: I must thank him only,

190Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;

191At heel of that, defy him.

192Time calls upon's:

193Of us must Pompey presently be sought,

194Or else he seeks out us.

195Where lies he?

196About the mount Misenum.

197What is his strength by land?

198Great and increasing: but by sea

199He is an absolute master.

200So is the fame.

201Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it:

202Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we

203The business we have talk'd of.

204With most gladness:

205And do invite you to my sister's view,

206Whither straight I'll lead you.

207Let us, Lepidus,

208Not lack your company.

209Noble Antony,

210Not sickness should detain me.

211Welcome from Egypt, sir.

212Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas! My

213honourable friend, Agrippa!

214Good Enobarbus!

215We have cause to be glad that matters are so well

216digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt.

217Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and

218made the night light with drinking.

219Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and

220but twelve persons there; is this true?

221This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more

222monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

223She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to

224her.

225When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up

226his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.

227There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised

228well for her.

229I will tell you.

230The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,

231Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold;

232Purple the sails, and so perfumed that

233The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver,

234Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made

235The water which they beat to follow faster,

236As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,

237It beggar'd all description: she did lie

238In her pavilion--cloth-of-gold of tissue--

239O'er-picturing that Venus where we see

240The fancy outwork nature: on each side her

241Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,

242With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem

243To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,

244And what they undid did.

245O, rare for Antony!

246Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,

247So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,

248And made their bends adornings: at the helm

249A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle

250Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,

251That yarely frame the office. From the barge

252A strange invisible perfume hits the sense

253Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast

254Her people out upon her; and Antony,

255Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone,

256Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,

257Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,

258And made a gap in nature.

259Rare Egyptian!

260Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,

261Invited her to supper: she replied,

262It should be better he became her guest;

263Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,

264Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak,

265Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast,

266And for his ordinary pays his heart

267For what his eyes eat only.

268Royal wench!

269She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed:

270He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.

271I saw her once

272Hop forty paces through the public street;

273And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,

274That she did make defect perfection,

275And, breathless, power breathe forth.

276Now Antony must leave her utterly.

277Never; he will not:

278Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

279Her infinite variety: other women cloy

280The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry

281Where most she satisfies; for vilest things

282Become themselves in her: that the holy priests

283Bless her when she is riggish.

284If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle

285The heart of Antony, Octavia is

286A blessed lottery to him.

287Let us go.

288Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest

289Whilst you abide here.

290Humbly, sir, I thank you.

1The world and my great office will sometimes

2Divide me from your bosom.

3All which time

4Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers

5To them for you.

6Good night, sir. My Octavia,

7Read not my blemishes in the world's report:

8I have not kept my square; but that to come

9Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.

10Good night, sir.

11Good night.

12Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?

13Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!

14If you can, your reason?

15I see it in

16My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet

17Hie you to Egypt again.

18Say to me,

19Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?

20Caesar's.

21Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:

22Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is

23Noble, courageous high, unmatchable,

24Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel

25Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore

26Make space enough between you.

27Speak this no more.

28To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.

29If thou dost play with him at any game,

30Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,

31He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,

32When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit

33Is all afraid to govern thee near him;

34But, he away, 'tis noble.

35Get thee gone:

36Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:

37He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,

38He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;

39And in our sports my better cunning faints

40Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;

41His cocks do win the battle still of mine,

42When it is all to nought; and his quails ever

43Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:

44And though I make this marriage for my peace,

45I' the east my pleasure lies.

46O, come, Ventidius,

47You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;

48Follow me, and receive't.

1Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten

2Your generals after.

3Sir, Mark Antony

4Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

5Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,

6Which will become you both, farewell.

7We shall,

8As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount

9Before you, Lepidus.

10Your way is shorter;

11My purposes do draw me much about:

12You'll win two days upon me.

13Sir, good success!

14Farewell.

1Give me some music; music, moody food

2Of us that trade in love.

3The music, ho!

4Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.

5My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

6As well a woman with an eunuch play'd

7As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?

8As well as I can, madam.

9And when good will is show'd, though't come

10too short,

11The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:

12Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there,

13My music playing far off, I will betray

14Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce

15Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,

16I'll think them every one an Antony,

17And say 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'

18'Twas merry when

19You wager'd on your angling; when your diver

20Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he

21With fervency drew up.

22That time,--O times!--

23I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night

24I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,

25Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;

26Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst

27I wore his sword Philippan.

28O, from Italy

29Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,

30That long time have been barren.

31Madam, madam,--

32Antonius dead!--If thou say so, villain,

33Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free,

34If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here

35My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings

36Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

37First, madam, he is well.

38Why, there's more gold.

39But, sirrah, mark, we use

40To say the dead are well: bring it to that,

41The gold I give thee will I melt and pour

42Down thy ill-uttering throat.

43Good madam, hear me.

44Well, go to, I will;

45But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony

46Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour

47To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,

48Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,

49Not like a formal man.

50Will't please you hear me?

51I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:

52Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,

53Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,

54I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail

55Rich pearls upon thee.

56Madam, he's well.

57Well said.

58And friends with Caesar.

59Thou'rt an honest man.

60Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

61Make thee a fortune from me.

62But yet, madam,--

63I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay

64The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!

65'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth

66Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,

67Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,

68The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar:

69In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.

70Free, madam! no; I made no such report:

71He's bound unto Octavia.

72For what good turn?

73For the best turn i' the bed.

74I am pale, Charmian.

75Madam, he's married to Octavia.

76The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

77Good madam, patience.

78What say you? Hence,

79Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes

80Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

81Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,

82Smarting in lingering pickle.

83Gracious madam,

84I that do bring the news made not the match.

85Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,

86And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst

87Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;

88And I will boot thee with what gift beside

89Thy modesty can beg.

90He's married, madam.

91Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

92Nay, then I'll run.

93What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

94Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:

95The man is innocent.

96Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.

97Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures

98Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:

99Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

100He is afeard to come.

101I will not hurt him.

102These hands do lack nobility, that they strike

103A meaner than myself; since I myself

104Have given myself the cause.

105Come hither, sir.

106Though it be honest, it is never good

107To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.

108An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell

109Themselves when they be felt.

110I have done my duty.

111Is he married?

112I cannot hate thee worser than I do,

113If thou again say 'Yes.'

114He's married, madam.

115The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

116Should I lie, madam?

117O, I would thou didst,

118So half my Egypt were submerged and made

119A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:

120Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me

121Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

122I crave your highness' pardon.

123He is married?

124Take no offence that I would not offend you:

125To punish me for what you make me do.

126Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

127O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,

128That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence:

129The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome

130Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,

131And be undone by 'em!

132Good your highness, patience.

133In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

134Many times, madam.

135I am paid for't now.

136Lead me from hence:

137I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.

138Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him

139Report the feature of Octavia, her years,

140Her inclination, let him not leave out

141The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

142Let him for ever go:--let him not--Charmian,

143Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,

144The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas

145Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,

146But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

1Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

2And we shall talk before we fight.

3Most meet

4That first we come to words; and therefore have we

5Our written purposes before us sent;

6Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know

7If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,

8And carry back to Sicily much tall youth

9That else must perish here.

10To you all three,

11The senators alone of this great world,

12Chief factors for the gods, I do not know

13Wherefore my father should revengers want,

14Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar,

15Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,

16There saw you labouring for him. What was't

17That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what

18Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,

19With the arm'd rest, courtiers and beauteous freedom,

20To drench the Capitol; but that they would

21Have one man but a man? And that is it

22Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen

23The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant

24To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome

25Cast on my noble father.

26Take your time.

27Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;

28We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st

29How much we do o'er-count thee.

30At land, indeed,

31Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:

32But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,

33Remain in't as thou mayst.

34Be pleased to tell us--

35For this is from the present--how you take

36The offers we have sent you.

37There's the point.

38Which do not be entreated to, but weigh

39What it is worth embraced.

40And what may follow,

41To try a larger fortune.

42You have made me offer

43Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must

44Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send

45Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon

46To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back

47Our targes undinted.

48That's our offer.

49Know, then,

50I came before you here a man prepared

51To take this offer: but Mark Antony

52Put me to some impatience: though I lose

53The praise of it by telling, you must know,

54When Caesar and your brother were at blows,

55Your mother came to Sicily and did find

56Her welcome friendly.

57I have heard it, Pompey;

58And am well studied for a liberal thanks

59Which I do owe you.

60Let me have your hand:

61I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

62The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you,

63That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;

64For I have gain'd by 't.

65Since I saw you last,

66There is a change upon you.

67Well, I know not

68What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;

69But in my bosom shall she never come,

70To make my heart her vassal.

71Well met here.

72I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:

73I crave our composition may be written,

74And seal'd between us.

75That's the next to do.

76We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's

77Draw lots who shall begin.

78That will I, Pompey.

79No, Antony, take the lot: but, first

80Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery

81Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar

82Grew fat with feasting there.

83You have heard much.

84I have fair meanings, sir.

85And fair words to them.

86Then so much have I heard:

87And I have heard, Apollodorus carried--

88No more of that: he did so.

89What, I pray you?

90A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

91I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?

92Well;

93And well am like to do; for, I perceive,

94Four feasts are toward.

95Let me shake thy hand;

96I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,

97When I have envied thy behavior.

98Sir,

99I never loved you much; but I ha' praised ye,

100When you have well deserved ten times as much

101As I have said you did.

102Enjoy thy plainness,

103It nothing ill becomes thee.

104Aboard my galley I invite you all:

105Will you lead, lords?

106Show us the way, sir.

107Come.

108[Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have

109made this treaty.--You and I have known, sir.

110At sea, I think.

111We have, sir.

112You have done well by water.

113And you by land.

114I will praise any man that will praise me; though it

115cannot be denied what I have done by land.

116Nor what I have done by water.

117Yes, something you can deny for your own

118safety: you have been a great thief by sea.

119And you by land.

120There I deny my land service. But give me your

121hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they

122might take two thieves kissing.

123All men's faces are true, whatsome'er their hands are.

124But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

125No slander; they steal hearts.

126We came hither to fight with you.

127For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking.

128Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

129If he do, sure, he cannot weep't back again.

130You've said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony

131here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

132Caesar's sister is called Octavia.

133True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

134But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

135Pray ye, sir?

136'Tis true.

137Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.

138If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would

139not prophesy so.

140I think the policy of that purpose made more in the

141marriage than the love of the parties.

142I think so too. But you shall find, the band that

143seems to tie their friendship together will be the

144very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a

145holy, cold, and still conversation.

146Who would not have his wife so?

147Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony.

148He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the

149sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar; and, as

150I said before, that which is the strength of their

151amity shall prove the immediate author of their

152variance. Antony will use his affection where it is:

153he married but his occasion here.

154And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard?

155I have a health for you.

156I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

157Come, let's away.

1Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are

2ill-rooted already: the least wind i' the world

3will blow them down.

4Lepidus is high-coloured.

5They have made him drink alms-drink.

6As they pinch one another by the disposition, he

7cries out 'No more;' reconciles them to his

8entreaty, and himself to the drink.

9But it raises the greater war between him and

10his discretion.

11Why, this is to have a name in great men's

12fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do

13me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

14To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen

15to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,

16which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

17[To OCTAVIUS CAESAR] Thus do they, sir: they take

18the flow o' the Nile

19By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,

20By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth

21Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,

22The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman

23Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,

24And shortly comes to harvest.

25You've strange serpents there.

26Ay, Lepidus.

27Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the

28operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

29They are so.

30Sit,--and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

31I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

32Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.

33Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'

34pyramises are very goodly things; without

35contradiction, I have heard that.

36[Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.

37[Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear:

38what is't?

39[Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech

40thee, captain,

41And hear me speak a word.

42[Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till anon.

43This wine for Lepidus!

44What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

45It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad

46as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is,

47and moves with its own organs: it lives by that

48which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of

49it, it transmigrates.

50What colour is it of?

51Of it own colour too.

52'Tis a strange serpent.

53'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

54Will this description satisfy him?

55With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a

56very epicure.

57[Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of

58that? away!

59Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?

60[Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou

61wilt hear me,

62Rise from thy stool.

63[Aside to MENAS] I think thou'rt mad.

64The matter?

65I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

66Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say?

67Be jolly, lords.

68These quick-sands, Lepidus,

69Keep off them, for you sink.

70Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

71What say'st thou?

72Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

73How should that be?

74But entertain it,

75And, though thou think me poor, I am the man

76Will give thee all the world.

77Hast thou drunk well?

78Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.

79Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:

80Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,

81Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

82Show me which way.

83These three world-sharers, these competitors,

84Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;

85And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:

86All there is thine.

87Ah, this thou shouldst have done,

88And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;

89In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,

90'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;

91Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue

92Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,

93I should have found it afterwards well done;

94But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

95[Aside] For this,

96I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.

97Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,

98Shall never find it more.

99This health to Lepidus!

100Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

101Here's to thee, Menas!

102Enobarbus, welcome!

103Fill till the cup be hid.

104There's a strong fellow, Menas.

105Why?

106A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st

107not?

108The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,

109That it might go on wheels!

110Drink thou; increase the reels.

111Come.

112This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

113It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho?

114Here is to Caesar!

115I could well forbear't.

116It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,

117And it grows fouler.

118Be a child o' the time.

119Possess it, I'll make answer:

120But I had rather fast from all four days

121Than drink so much in one.

122Ha, my brave emperor!

123Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,

124And celebrate our drink?

125Let's ha't, good soldier.

126Come, let's all take hands,

127Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense

128In soft and delicate Lethe.

129All take hands.

130Make battery to our ears with the loud music:

131The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;

132The holding every man shall bear as loud

133As his strong sides can volley.

134THE SONG.

135Come, thou monarch of the vine,

136Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!

137In thy fats our cares be drown'd,

138With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:

139Cup us, till the world go round,

140Cup us, till the world go round!

141What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,

142Let me request you off: our graver business

143Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;

144You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb

145Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue

146Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost

147Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.

148Good Antony, your hand.

149I'll try you on the shore.

150And shall, sir; give's your hand.

151O Antony,

152You have my father's house,--But, what? we are friends.

153Come, down into the boat.

154Take heed you fall not.

155Menas, I'll not on shore.

156No, to my cabin.

157These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!

158Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell

159To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out!

160Ho! says a' There's my cap.

161Ho! Noble captain, come.

1Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now

2Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death

3Make me revenger. Bear the king's son's body

4Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,

5Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

6Noble Ventidius,

7Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,

8The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,

9Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither

10The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony

11Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and

12Put garlands on thy head.

13O Silius, Silius,

14I have done enough; a lower place, note well,

15May make too great an act: for learn this, Silius;

16Better to leave undone, than by our deed

17Acquire too high a fame when him we serve's away.

18Caesar and Antony have ever won

19More in their officer than person: Sossius,

20One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,

21For quick accumulation of renown,

22Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favour.

23Who does i' the wars more than his captain can

24Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,

25The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,

26Than gain which darkens him.

27I could do more to do Antonius good,

28But 'twould offend him; and in his offence

29Should my performance perish.

30Thou hast, Ventidius,

31that

32Without the which a soldier, and his sword,

33Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony!

34I'll humbly signify what in his name,

35That magical word of war, we have effected;

36How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,

37The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia

38We have jaded out o' the field.

39Where is he now?

40He purposeth to Athens: whither, with what haste

41The weight we must convey with's will permit,

42We shall appear before him. On there; pass along!

1What, are the brothers parted?

2They have dispatch'd with Pompey, he is gone;

3The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps

4To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,

5Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled

6With the green sickness.

7'Tis a noble Lepidus.

8A very fine one: O, how he loves Caesar!

9Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!

10Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.

11What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.

12Spake you of Caesar? How! the non-pareil!

13O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

14Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar:' go no further.

15Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.

16But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony:

17Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards,

18poets, cannot

19Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho!

20His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,

21Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.

22Both he loves.

23They are his shards, and he their beetle.

24So;

25This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.

26Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.

27No further, sir.

28You take from me a great part of myself;

29Use me well in 't. Sister, prove such a wife

30As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band

31Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,

32Let not the piece of virtue, which is set

33Betwixt us as the cement of our love,

34To keep it builded, be the ram to batter

35The fortress of it; for better might we

36Have loved without this mean, if on both parts

37This be not cherish'd.

38Make me not offended

39In your distrust.

40I have said.

41You shall not find,

42Though you be therein curious, the least cause

43For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you,

44And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!

45We will here part.

46Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:

47The elements be kind to thee, and make

48Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.

49My noble brother!

50The April 's in her eyes: it is love's spring,

51And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.

52Sir, look well to my husband's house; and--

53What, Octavia?

54I'll tell you in your ear.

55Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can

56Her heart inform her tongue,--the swan's

57down-feather,

58That stands upon the swell at full of tide,

59And neither way inclines.

60[Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?

61[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in 's face.

62[Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that,

63were he a horse;

64So is he, being a man.

65[Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus,

66When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,

67He cried almost to roaring; and he wept

68When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

69[Aside to AGRIPPA] That year, indeed, he was

70troubled with a rheum;

71What willingly he did confound he wail'd,

72Believe't, till I wept too.

73No, sweet Octavia,

74You shall hear from me still; the time shall not

75Out-go my thinking on you.

76Come, sir, come;

77I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:

78Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,

79And give you to the gods.

80Adieu; be happy!

81Let all the number of the stars give light

82To thy fair way!

83Farewell, fa rewell!

84Farewell!

1Where is the fellow?

2Half afeard to come.

3Go to, go to.

4Come hither, sir.

5Good majesty,

6Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you

7But when you are well pleased.

8That Herod's head

9I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone

10Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.

11Most gracious majesty,--

12Didst thou behold Octavia?

13Ay, dread queen.

14Where?

15Madam, in Rome;

16I look'd her in the face, and saw her led

17Between her brother and Mark Antony.

18Is she as tall as me?

19She is not, madam.

20Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?

21Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

22That's not so good: he cannot like her long.

23Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.

24I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!

25What majesty is in her gait? Remember,

26If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

27She creeps:

28Her motion and her station are as one;

29She shows a body rather than a life,

30A statue than a breather.

31Is this certain?

32Or I have no observance.

33Three in Egypt

34Cannot make better note.

35He's very knowing;

36I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:

37The fellow has good judgment.

38Excellent.

39Guess at her years, I prithee.

40Madam,

41She was a widow,--

42Widow! Charmian, hark.

43And I do think she's thirty.

44Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?

45Round even to faultiness.

46For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.

47Her hair, what colour?

48Brown, madam: and her forehead

49As low as she would wish it.

50There's gold for thee.

51Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:

52I will employ thee back again; I find thee

53Most fit for business: go make thee ready;

54Our letters are prepared.

55A proper man.

56Indeed, he is so: I repent me much

57That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,

58This creature's no such thing.

59Nothing, madam.

60The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

61Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,

62And serving you so long!

63I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:

64But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me

65Where I will write. All may be well enough.

66I warrant you, madam.

1Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,--

2That were excusable, that, and thousands more

3Of semblable import,--but he hath waged

4New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it

5To public ear:

6Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not

7But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly

8He vented them; most narrow measure lent me:

9When the best hint was given him, he not took't,

10Or did it from his teeth.

11O my good lord,

12Believe not all; or, if you must believe,

13Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,

14If this division chance, ne'er stood between,

15Praying for both parts:

16The good gods me presently,

17When I shall pray, 'O bless my lord and husband!'

18Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,

19'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,

20Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway

21'Twixt these extremes at all.

22Gentle Octavia,

23Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks

24Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,

25I lose myself: better I were not yours

26Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,

27Yourself shall go between 's: the mean time, lady,

28I'll raise the preparation of a war

29Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;

30So your desires are yours.

31Thanks to my lord.

32The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,

33Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be

34As if the world should cleave, and that slain men

35Should solder up the rift.

36When it appears to you where this begins,

37Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults

38Can never be so equal, that your love

39Can equally move with them. Provide your going;

40Choose your own company, and command what cost

41Your heart has mind to.

1How now, friend Eros!

2There's strange news come, sir.

3What, man?

4Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

5This is old: what is the success?

6Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst

7Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let

8him partake in the glory of the action: and not

9resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly

10wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: so

11the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.

12Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more;

13And throw between them all the food thou hast,

14They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?

15He's walking in the garden--thus; and spurns

16The rush that lies before him; cries, 'Fool Lepidus!'

17And threats the throat of that his officer

18That murder'd Pompey.

19Our great navy's rigg'd.

20For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius;

21My lord desires you presently: my news

22I might have told hereafter.

23'Twill be naught:

24But let it be. Bring me to Antony.

25Come, sir.

1Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,

2In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:

3I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,

4Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold

5Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat

6Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,

7And all the unlawful issue that their lust

8Since then hath made between them. Unto her

9He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her

10Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,

11Absolute queen.

12This in the public eye?

13I' the common show-place, where they exercise.

14His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:

15Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.

16He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd

17Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she

18In the habiliments of the goddess Isis

19That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,

20As 'tis reported, so.

21Let Rome be thus Inform'd.

22Who, queasy with his insolence

23Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

24The people know it; and have now received

25His accusations.

26Who does he accuse?

27Caesar: and that, having in Sicily

28Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him

29His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me

30Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets

31That Lepidus of the triumvirate

32Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain

33All his revenue.

34Sir, this should be answer'd.

35'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.

36I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;

37That he his high authority abused,

38And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,

39I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,

40And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I

41Demand the like.

42He'll never yield to that.

43Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

44Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!

45That ever I should call thee castaway!

46You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

47Why have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not

48Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony

49Should have an army for an usher, and

50The neighs of horse to tell of her approach

51Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way

52Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,

53Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust

54Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,

55Raised by your populous troops: but you are come

56A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented

57The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,

58Is often left unloved; we should have met you

59By sea and land; supplying every stage

60With an augmented greeting.

61Good my lord,

62To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did

63On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,

64Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted

65My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd

66His pardon for return.

67Which soon he granted,

68Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

69Do not say so, my lord.

70I have eyes upon him,

71And his affairs come to me on the wind.

72Where is he now?

73My lord, in Athens.

74No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra

75Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire

76Up to a whore; who now are levying

77The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled

78Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,

79Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

80Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;

81King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;

82Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king

83Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,

84The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,

85With a more larger list of sceptres.

86Ay me, most wretched,

87That have my heart parted betwixt two friends

88That do afflict each other!

89Welcome hither:

90Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;

91Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,

92And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;

93Be you not troubled with the time, which drives

94O'er your content these strong necessities;

95But let determined things to destiny

96Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;

97Nothing more dear to me. You are abused

98Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,

99To do you justice, make them ministers

100Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;

101And ever welcome to us.

102Welcome, lady.

103Welcome, dear madam.

104Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:

105Only the adulterous Antony, most large

106In his abominations, turns you off;

107And gives his potent regiment to a trull,

108That noises it against us.

109Is it so, sir?

110Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,

111Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!

1I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

2But why, why, why?

3Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,

4And say'st it is not fit.

5Well, is it, is it?

6If not denounced against us, why should not we

7Be there in person?

8[Aside] Well, I could reply:

9If we should serve with horse and mares together,

10The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear

11A soldier and his horse.

12What is't you say?

13Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;

14Take from his heart, take from his brain,

15from's time,

16What should not then be spared. He is already

17Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome

18That Photinus an eunuch and your maids

19Manage this war.

20Sink Rome, and their tongues rot

21That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,

22And, as the president of my kingdom, will

23Appear there for a man. Speak not against it:

24I will not stay behind.

25Nay, I have done.

26Here comes the emperor.

27Is it not strange, Canidius,

28That from Tarentum and Brundusium

29He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,

30And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?

31Celerity is never more admired

32Than by the negligent.

33A good rebuke,

34Which might have well becomed the best of men,

35To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we

36Will fight with him by sea.

37By sea! what else?

38Why will my lord do so?

39For that he dares us to't.

40So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

41Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia.

42Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers,

43Which serve not for his vantage, be shakes off;

44And so should you.

45Your ships are not well mann'd;

46Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people

47Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet

48Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:

49Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace

50Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,

51Being prepared for land.

52By sea, by sea.

53Most worthy sir, you therein throw away

54The absolute soldiership you have by land;

55Distract your army, which doth most consist

56Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted

57Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego

58The way which promises assurance; and

59Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,

60From firm security.

61I'll fight at sea.

62I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.