SCENE VI. Near Misenum. Enter POMPEY, and MENAS, at one side, with drum and trumpet: at another, CESAR, LEPIDUS, AnTONY, ENOBARBUS, MECENAS, 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, Pom. The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant 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. At land, indeed, Pom. Lep. (For this is from the present,) how you take The offers we have sent you. Cœs. Be pleas'd to tell us, There's the point. Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth embrac'd. 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 Our targe undinted. Cæs. Ant. Lep. That's our offer. Know then, I came before you here, a man prepar'd Put me to some impatience :-Though I lose Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks, Which I do owe you. Pom. 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; What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; But in my bosom shall she never come, To make my heart her vassal. Lep. Well met here. Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.-Thus we are agreed: I crave, our composition may be written, And seal'd between us. Cas. That's 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. 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. And fair words to them. Pom. Then so much have I heard:And I have heard, Apollodorus carriedEno. No more of that:-He did so. Pom. Eno. A certain queen to Cæsar in a mattress. Pom. I know thee now; How far'st thou, soldier? Eno. What, I pray you? And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Four feasts are toward. Pom. Well; Let me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, Eno. Sir, I never lov'd you much; but I have prais'd you, [Exeunt Pompey, Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, 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. Men. We have, sir. Eno. You have done well by water. Men. And you by land. Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me: though it cannot be denied what I have done by land. Men. Nor what I have done by water. Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea. Men. And you by land. Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their hands are. Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true face. Men. No slander; they steal hearts. Eno. We came hither to fight with you. Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune. Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep it back again. Men. You have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here; Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ? Eno. Cæsar's sister is call'd Octavia. Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. |