Beat mine, in-hoop'd at odds. I will to Egypt;
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' eaft my pleasure lies. Oh, come, Ventidius.
Enter Ventidius.

You must to Parthia, your commiffion's ready :
Follow me, and receive't.

Enter Lepidus, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

[Excunt.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no farther : pray you baslen Your Generals after.

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony

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

Lep. Till I fhall fee you in your foldier's drefs, Which will become you both, farewel,

Mec. We fhall,

As I conceive the journey, be at th' mount

Before you, Lepidus.

Lep. Your way is fhorter,

My purposes do draw me much about;

You'll win two days upon me,

Beth. Sir, good fuccefs.

Lep. Farewel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. Changes to the palace in Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. Cleo. Give me fome mufic: Mufic, moody food Of us that trade in love.

Omnes. The mufic, hoa!

Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Cleo. Let it alone, let's to billiards: come, Charmian. Char. My arm is fore, beft play with Mardian. Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch play'd, As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, Sir? Mar. As well as I can, Madam.

[short,

Cleo. And when good will is fhew'd, tho't come too The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now. Give me mine angle, we'll to the river, there, My mufic playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finn'd fith; my bended hook fhal pierce VOL. VII.

I

Their flimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I'll think them every one an Antony,
And fay, Ah, ha! you're caught.

Char. 'Twas merry when

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a falt fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.

Cleo. That time !-oh times !—

I laughed him out of patience, and that night
I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed:
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his fword Philippine. Ob, from Italy ;-
Enter a Messenger.

Rain thou thy faithful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.

Mef. Madam! Madam !

Cleo. Antony's dead?

If thou fay fo, villain, thou kill'ft thy mistress :
But well and free,

If thou fo yield him, there is gold, and here
My blueft veins to kifs; a hand that kings

Have lipp'd, and trembled kiffing.

Mef. First, Madam, he is well.

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. But, firrah, mark, we

To fay, the dead are well: Bring it to that,

The gold I give thee, will I met and pour

Down thy ill uttering throat.

Mef. Good Madam, hear me.

Cleo. Well, go to, I will:

But there's no goodness in thy face. If Antony
Be free and healthful, why fo tart a favour

To trumpet fuch good tidings? if not well,

[ufe

Thou should't come like a fury crown'd with fnakes, Not like a formal man.

Mef. Will't please you hear me?

Cleo. I have a mind to ftrike thee ere thou speak'st;

Yet if thou fay Antony lives, 'tis well,

Or friends with Cæfar, or not captive to him,

I'll fet thee in a fhower of gold, and hail

*Formal for ordinary.

Cleo. Thou'rt an honeft man.

Me. Cæfar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.

Me. But yet, Madam

Cleo. I do not like But yet, it does allay

The good precedence t; fie upon But yet:

But yet is as a jailor 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 Cæfar, In ftate of health, thou fay'ft; and thou fay'st, free. Me. Free, Madam! no: I made no fuch report, He's bound unto Octavia.

Cleo. For what good turn?

Mel. For the best turn i' th' bed.

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.

Me. Madam, he's married to Octavia,

Cleo. The most infectious peftilence upon thee !

Meff. Good Madam, patience.

Cleo. What fay you?

[Strikes him down.

[Strikes him

Hence, horrible villain, or I'll fpurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[She hales him up and down.

It was a ceremony among the eastern nations, at coronations, triumphs, and great festivals, that their kings fitting in ftate had fhowers of gold, and pearl, and precious ftones, poured down upon them. To which custom Milton alfo alludes:

Or where the gorgeous caft with richeft hand

Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. Bi 2. v. 3.

This fact is verified by hiftorians. In the life of Timor Bec or Tamerlane, written by a Perfian, a contemporary author, are the following words, as they are tranflated by Monf, Petit de la Croix, in the account there given of his coronation, B. 2. chap. 1.

Les princes du fang royal & les emirs repandirent à pleines mains fur fa tête quantité d'or & de pierreries, felon la coûtume,

And at the bottom of the page is this note;

Cette coûtume fubfifte encore aujourdhui, non feulement au couronne ment des princes, mais encore aux marriages des particuliers. t precedence, for precedent.

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

Me. Gracious Madam,

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

Cleo. Say, 'tis not fo, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud the blow thou hadst, Shall make thy peace, for moving me to rage; And I will boot thee with what gift befide

Thy modesty can beg.

Me. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liv'd too long.

Me. Nay, then I'll run:

[Draws a dagger.

What mean you, Madam? I have made no fault. [Exit.
Char. Good Madam, keep yourself within yourself,
The man is innocent.

Cleo. Some innocents 'fcape not the thunderbolt-
Melt Egypt into Nile; and kindly creatures
Turn all to ferpents! call the flave again;
Though I am mad I will not bite him; call.
Char. He is afraid to come.

Cleo. I will not hurt him.

Thefe hands do lack nobility, that they ftrike
A meaner than myfelf; fince I myself

Have given myfelf the caufe.

Come hither, Sir.

Re-enter the Messenger.

Though it be honeft, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious meffage
An hoft of tongues, but let ill tidings tell
Themfelves, when they be felt.

Me. I have done my duty.

Cleo. Is he married!

I cannot hate thee worfer than I do,

If you again fay, Yes.

Mel. He's married, Madam.

Cleo. The gods confound thee! doft thou hold there fill?

Me. Should I lye, Madam?

Cleo. Oh, I would thou didft;

So half my Egypt were fubmerg'd, and made

A ciftern for fcald fuakes! go, get thee hence ;

Hadit thou Narciffus in thy face, to me

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mell. I crave your Highness' pardon.

Cleo. He is married?

Meff. Take no offence, for I would not offend you ; To punish me for what you make me do,

Seems much unequal. He's married to Octavia.

Glo. Oh, that his faults should make a knave of thee, That sayst but what thou'rt fure of!-Get thee hence; The merchandizes thou haft brought from Rome, Are all too dear for me:

Lie they upon thy hand, and be undone by 'em!

Char. Good your Highness, patience.

[Exit Melf.

Cleo. In praifing Antony, I have difprais'd Cæfar. Char. Many times, Madam.

Cleo. I am paid for it now.

I faint; oh Iras, Charmian

Lead me from hence, '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,
Let him for ever go-
—let him not, Charmian,

Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
Th' other way he's a Mars. Bid you Alexas
Bring word how tall fhe is: pity me, Charmian,
But speak not to me. Lead me to my chamber.

[Exeunt.

Changes to the cost of Italy, near Mifenum.

Enter Pompey and Menas, at one door with drum and trumpet; at another, Cæfar, Lepidus, Antony, Eвоbarbus, Mecenas, Agrippa, with Soldiers marching,

Pom. Your hoftages I have, fo have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight.

Caf. Moft meet,

That first we come to words; and therefore have we

Our written purposes before us fent;

Which if thou haft confider'd, let us know.

If 'twill tie up thy discoutented iword,.